>Dereck Lively II is about to participate in his first NBA Finals.
>The Mavericks’ 20-year-old center is nearly finished with his rookie season, but he has the rare opportunity to add NBA champion to his basketball resume over the next couple of weeks.
>The NBA Finals are also known as basketball’s biggest stage. The lights are brighter. Every moment is intensified. The series is temporary, but the results are permanent. The first team to four wins walks away with the shiny Larry O’Brien trophy — an accolade that separates good players from the greats.
>How does the aspiration of reaching the NBA Finals match up to reality for Lively?
>“You dream of it,” Lively said after Sunday’s practice. “Being able to be in The Finals is something that I didn’t expect myself to be a part of for a very long time. To be able to do this in my first year, I just want to be able to learn as much as I possibly can and grow as much as I can.”
He is pretty much gonna be a better version of Kareem and Shaq combined
Vivid_Present1810
Such an impactful rookie he deserves to be Rookie of the Year when all is said and done. This guy had been nothing but a team player even in the face of adversity. This is just the beginning, and I can’t wait to see the rise.
LeBroentgen
Add it to the list man. Lively was too raw to contribute this year, Kidd is a bad coach, PJ and Gafford were blown assets, etc.
Sportsfanatic88
Imagine being a rookie and going to the Finals (and very well could win it) your first yr bc you’re playing with 2 NBA legends.
whitefang0824
The craziest part of it is HE IS AN IMPORTANT REASON OF WHY MAVS ARE IN THE NBA FINALS. Dude would be a future Hall of Famer. We gotta make him a Mavs for life.
HibernianFriend-
If the Mavs win this year they should retire his jersey
MrMavericksFan
Mf is already a top 5 rebounder in the league. Maybe top 3
TingusPingus_6969
for all the complaints of people on Kidd, Kidd is actually great in developing talents
OnCloud9_77
He’s going to average 17 and 12 in a few years
Calliesdad20
I advocated for the mavs to take him for months on here . All you had to do is to watch dukes first round ncaa tour Manet game Or the game against nc.
He had injury issues last year and dukes system didn’t showcase his talents . If he can develop an outside shot and improve his free throw shooting , he’d an all star.
11 Comments
Mike Curtis of *The Dallas Morning News* writes:
>Dereck Lively II is about to participate in his first NBA Finals.
>The Mavericks’ 20-year-old center is nearly finished with his rookie season, but he has the rare opportunity to add NBA champion to his basketball resume over the next couple of weeks.
>The NBA Finals are also known as basketball’s biggest stage. The lights are brighter. Every moment is intensified. The series is temporary, but the results are permanent. The first team to four wins walks away with the shiny Larry O’Brien trophy — an accolade that separates good players from the greats.
>How does the aspiration of reaching the NBA Finals match up to reality for Lively?
>“You dream of it,” Lively said after Sunday’s practice. “Being able to be in The Finals is something that I didn’t expect myself to be a part of for a very long time. To be able to do this in my first year, I just want to be able to learn as much as I possibly can and grow as much as I can.”
[Read more.](https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/mavericks/2024/06/02/nba-dallas-mavericks-dereck-lively-rookie-boston-celtics-finals/)
He is pretty much gonna be a better version of Kareem and Shaq combined
Such an impactful rookie he deserves to be Rookie of the Year when all is said and done. This guy had been nothing but a team player even in the face of adversity. This is just the beginning, and I can’t wait to see the rise.
Add it to the list man. Lively was too raw to contribute this year, Kidd is a bad coach, PJ and Gafford were blown assets, etc.
Imagine being a rookie and going to the Finals (and very well could win it) your first yr bc you’re playing with 2 NBA legends.
The craziest part of it is HE IS AN IMPORTANT REASON OF WHY MAVS ARE IN THE NBA FINALS. Dude would be a future Hall of Famer. We gotta make him a Mavs for life.
If the Mavs win this year they should retire his jersey
Mf is already a top 5 rebounder in the league. Maybe top 3
for all the complaints of people on Kidd, Kidd is actually great in developing talents
He’s going to average 17 and 12 in a few years
I advocated for the mavs to take him for months on here .
All you had to do is to watch dukes first round ncaa tour Manet game
Or the game against nc.
He had injury issues last year and dukes system didn’t showcase his talents .
If he can develop an outside shot and improve his free throw shooting , he’d an all star.
If not , he’s still incredibly valuable