Luka Doncic, Rudy Gobert Praise Dallas Mavs’ Dereck Lively II, O-Max Prosper NBA Preseason Debuts

Dallas Mavs rookies Dereck Lively II and Olivier-Maxence Prosper made their NBA preseason debut against the Timberwolves. They shared their thoughts on the experience and got high praise from others.

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — When the Dallas Mavericks were defeated 111-99 by the Minnesota Timberwolves, it marked the first-ever NBA preseason action for rookies Dereck Lively II and Olivier-Maxence Prosper. Both players were afforded starting roles alongside Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and Grant Williams,

"I thought they did a really good job. They were rookies," Mavs coach Jason Kidd said of Lively and Prosper. "There was some good stuff that Derek did going against Gobert and KAT. O-Max had some good looks that didn't go down for him tonight."

Lively, who finished with two points, five rebounds, and one block in just under 15 minutes, had the tough task of competing against a frontcourt consisting of Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns. It was a great learning opportunity for Lively to experience and adjust before Saturday's matchup against Minnesota.

"You have to be able to use a lot of physicality," Lively said. "You have to speed up the game a little bit differently. The floor is bigger, but it just takes time to get used to it. You have to learn and move on to the next game.

"Just to be able to go up against two All-Stars like that — two people who have been in the league for multiple years and have made a name for themselves — you kind of just push yourself and realize how far you have to get, and just the steps you gotta take to get there," Lively explained.

Despite the small sample size, Gobert, who finished with nine points and eight rebounds in 23 minutes, was intrigued by what he saw from Lively. While Gobert respects Lively's talent, the savvy veteran explained that adapting to being in the NBA is a real process, including the day-to-day responsibilities that come with it.

"I'm happy for the rookie," Gobert said of Lively. "I think he has a lot of talent. Obviously, I didn't get to see from a matchup in one game, but he has the potential. It depends on how he's going to adapt, how he's going to work, and how he's going to handle being in the NBA. At the end of the day, that's the toughest part of this league."

Olivier-Maxence Prosper and Dereck Lively II at their Dallas Mavericks rookie photoshoot / Mavs.com

The Mavs' veteran players understand the importance of the development of Lively and Prosper to the team's big-picture success. The veterans, including Doncic and Irving, have assisted in on-court leadership with both players and understand it'll be a patient process as they get acclimated to the NBA. 

"It was good. It was their first game, so they were a little nervous," Doncic said of Lively and Prosper. "It's a big process. You know, it's the big league now."

One of Lively's positive contributions to the Mavs' offense featured his two-man game with Doncic. The offense tried to play out of handoff actions often in the first half, but a stretch with double-drag screens with Doncic as the ball handler and Lively as the screener resulted in consecutive scoring outcomes. The first was a lob to Lively, then the big defender had to fear that option, opening up a finish for Doncic on the next play. His impact will only grow as Lively builds familiarity with the offense and his teammates. For now, he's shown some intriguing flashes of potential. 

"Everyone's going to him, but if they see me going down low, it's going to make them think twice about if they're going to make my job easier and make his job easier," Lively said of Doncic. "That's my job, and that's what we'll do from now on. You know, I feel like we bring the attention. 

Among Lively's responsibilities is to anchor the defense, which is a tough adjustment when entering the NBA. While the two were undersized compared to Gobert and Towns, Lively already appreciates having Williams' activity and communication alongside him as the two set the tone for the unit. However, Lively acknowledged the need to bring intensity and defense despite fatigue. 

"We bring the intensity and the defense; we bring a lot of stuff," Lively said of anchoring the defense with Williams. "We have to make sure even though we get tired, we're bringing it the entire game. I've learned a lot from him so far."

Prosper finished with two points and one rebound in about 18 minutes of play. He admitted it was an exciting experience to participate in his first NBA game, particularly in an unusual setting for a rookie, with it being in Abu Dhabi instead of a traditional venue and destination. 

"I had a lot of fun out there in my first experience," Prosper said. "It's good to be out there with those guys, getting adjusted to playing my first game, but a lot of excitement."

Prosper will focus on slowing down when competing in Saturday's game as he adjusts to the NBA. However, he understands the importance of not having that deter his aggression when competing, making it essential to take what the defense gives him.

"Just slow down out there," Prosper said. "A lot of excitement in my first game, just slow down, but still be aggressive and be ready for whatever happens out there."

With the Timberwolves star bigs playing with physicality and still having the luxury of Towns' offensive versatility, Prosper acknowledged it was a challenging matchup for the Mavs. The team must adjust before facing them again as he and Lively acclimate to physicality in the NBA. 

"It's big time," Prosper said about facing Gobert and Towns. "Just playing against those guys, they are very physical. You have to get used to it. We weren't ready for that early on. They bullied us in the offensive end, and now we're into game two."

From the opposition's perspective, Timberwolves coach Chris Finch likes what he saw from Lively and Prosper regarding their physical capability of being impact players in the NBA. The adjustment required to the NBA isn't instant for any player, but alongside some of the Mavs' key veteran players to simplify the game, Finch sees Lively and Prosper faring just fine in their careers.

"I like what I see in terms of their body and activity," Finch said of Lively and Prosper. "It's always tough when you step into an NBA game. You played summer League, and you played in the pickup gym runs, but when the real players step out there, everything changes, but they're going to be just fine. They're playing alongside some excellent guys who can help make them better."

Lively and Prosper will look to bounce back on Saturday when they get another chance to compete with the Mavs against the Timberwolves.