The Dallas Mavericks are hoping for a better 2025-26 season.
The Dallas Mavericks have spent months reeling from their decision to make the trade that stunned the basketball world, sending Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Since Doncic’s trade departure, a string of brutal events unfolded for the Mavs. Kyrie Irving went down with a season-ending ACL injury, and Anthony Davis alone couldn’t carry the team to the NBA Playoffs. They were ultimately eliminated in the Play-In Tournament.
Enduring a nightmare season and dealing with a murky future ahead, the Mavs unexpectedly gained a flicker of hope. With a mere 1.8 percent odds, they hit the jackpot and won the NBA Draft Lottery, positioning themselves to choose Duke standout and projected No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg.
Photo by Jacek Boczarski/Anadolu via Getty ImagesViral Dallas Mavericks image shows a taller Dereck Lively II
With Cooper Flagg set to be the newest face of their franchise alongside Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis, the Mavericks are ready for new beginnings in the post-Luka Doncic era.
Although he remains public enemy No. 1 in Dallas, general manager Nico Harrison already has his offseason plans prepared for the Mavs.
A key element of the Mavs’ 2025-26 season will be Dereck Lively II. And right now, the ball club has more reasons to be intrigued about the ongoing development of the young center.
During recent a pre-draft events held by Klutch Sports, Davis and Harrison were in attendance to represent the Mavs, Lively II was also part of the delegation. An image is now circulating across the NBA internet where it appears the 21-year-old is now noticeably taller than his listed 7-foot-1 frame.
Dallas Mavericks GM Nico Harrison said Dereck Lively has grown 2 inches during the offseason.
Lively now stands 7’3” with a 7’9” wingspan.
Dallas’s leading big man now is now ‘incredible at protecting the rim’. pic.twitter.com/v1FImBUPHu
— MaverickSZN 🇦🇺 (@Maverick_SZN) May 24, 2025
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Mavs fans react to Lively II’s growth spurt
On X, Mavericks fans are surprised with the recent image of Dereck Lively II.
A Mavs fan wrote: “WOW! Dereck Lively has grown 2 inches during the offseason. That’s UNREAL!”
Another added: “How does he looks so much taller than AD?”
Meanwhile, a Dallas faithful also argued: “Lively damn! AD and Lively, that frontcourt man is gonna be hard to score tbh, Gafford might be the odd man out or backup center.”
“On his David Robinson growth,” another Mavericks fan said. “That rim protection gonna be a problem.”
On the other hand, a fan expressed pessimism: “That’s great but it means he’s more susceptible to injury. Usually extremely tall players like that end up having foot problems in the NBA. He’s already had stress fractures in his foot. Let’s hope that’s not the case.”
While another fan joked: “Now he’s gonna trade him to the Lakers.”
Limited to just 36 games and experiencing a rough sophomore season of his career due to injuries, a rejuvenated and developed Lively II is expected to bounce back for the Mavs in the next season.
If he can play the full 82 games in 2025-26, the Mavericks will be looking at a successful year.