Mavericks’ Dereck Lively II Could Miss 2 Weeks

Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd told NBA reporters that Dereck Lively II could miss two weeks. 

Lively II is dealing with a right knee injury. 

Mavs head coach Jason Kidd says rookie center Dereck Lively (right knee soreness) could be out two weeks.

— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) April 3, 2024

Lively II is averaging 8.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.7 steals and 1.4 blocks on the season while shooting 74.7% from the field and 50.6% from the free-throw line. He has eight double-doubles. 

Lively II was the 12th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft out of Duke. The Mavericks acquired the rookie from the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

In other Mavericks news, according to NBA front office insider Bobby Marks of ESPN, Dallas can sign Luka Doncic to a five-year, $346 million extension in 2025. That contract would be the richest deal in NBA history. 

Luka Doncic has reached the 65-game criteria.

He is now eligible for MVP and All-NBA honors.

Doncic will also reach the super max criteria when he is named All-NBA this offseason.

He will be eligible to sign a five-year $346M super max extension in the 2025 offseason.

The…

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) April 1, 2024

The Mavericks signed Doncic to a five-year, $215 million extension in August 2021. Since entering the NBA in 2018, Doncic has established himself as one of the best players in the association. 

A five-time All-Star, Doncic has career averages of 28.6 points, 8.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists. He’s already third in NBA history in points per game and ninth in triple-doubles.

The 2018-19 Rookie of the Year, Doncic is averaging 34.0 points, 9.1 rebounds and 9.8 assists this season while shooting 48.9% from the field, 38.0% from beyond the arc and 78.2% from the free-throw line. He’s in the MVP conversation. 

Doncic, 25, is first in the NBA in points, first in points per game, 17th in rebounds, 15th in rebounds per game, third in assists and second in assists per game. 

“I can’t answer that (MVP question),” Doncic said during an interview with Sam Amick of The Athletic. “That’s for the media. I’m happy we’re winning, man. That’s it. You know I’m not going to answer that question.”

The Mavericks are 45-29. They are in fifth place in the Western Conference standings and have played like an elite team on both ends since acquiring PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford. 

“Yeah, of course. Those two guys that we got at the trade deadline, PJ and Gaff, they help us a lot,” Doncic said. “They never complain. They just play hard every play, and they are our two, I think, best defensive guys. We’ve got D. Jones (Derrick Jones Jr.), and everybody plays together. We have a five-man defense, which is very important. The whole team is special, man.”