‘Turn the Page’: Dereck Lively II On Dallas Mavericks’ Fresh Start And Championship Push

Grant AfsethOctober 1, 2025October 21, 2025no comment

Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images

Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II opened training camp with a simple message about moving forward.

“Turn the page. We’ve got a new start. We’re trying to win a championship this year. We can’t change the past, but we can focus on the future,” Lively said.

Lively appeared in 36 games last season, averaging 8.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. His year was cut short by a right ankle injury, which required offseason surgery. He said the experience forced him to learn patience and stay committed to the daily work needed to recover.

“I’m feeling good,” Lively said. “I’ve been taking the time to really get back, focus on my body, and make sure I’m healthy. Last season taught me a lot about patience and about putting the work in every day, even when you’re not on the floor.”

Minutes Plan and Growth

Head coach Jason Kidd said Lively will begin the year on a minutes plan as he works back into game shape. Lively said he welcomes the approach.

“Honestly, I just take whatever comes,” he said. “If it’s 24 minutes, 20 minutes, whatever the coaches need from me, I’ll give everything I have in that time. I’m just focused on playing the right way and building myself back up.”

He added that his top individual goal is to stay on the floor and grow into a defensive anchor.

“I want to stay healthy—that’s the biggest one,” he said. “From there, I want to keep growing as a defensive anchor. Be somebody my teammates trust to call things out, protect the rim, and cover for them.”

Offensive Improvements

Lively used the offseason to sharpen his skill set while rehabbing, focusing on adding variety to his scoring and playmaking.

“I worked on my touch a lot—hook shots, floaters, things like that,” he said. “Also really locked in on my passing, because we’ve got so many guys who can score. I want to be able to make the right reads when I catch the ball inside.”

He also addressed his perimeter shooting, saying he intends to space the floor without overextending his game.

“Not forcing it, just allowing it to come to me,” Lively said. “Trail three, corner three, just finding the bits, the times, and the right times to shoot the ball in the game and not trying to force it. Trying to make sure that I’m doing what’s right for the team and what’s doing right for myself. Going out there and shooting 10 threes ain’t gonna help nobody, but going out there and making two to three and getting a bunch of rebounds, that’s what I’m supposed to do and that’s my job.”

Learning from Anthony Davis

Lively said his time alongside Anthony Davis has been invaluable, particularly on the defensive end.

“Man, AD is unbelievable,” Lively said. “Watching how he moves defensively—he can guard anybody, protect the rim, switch, everything. Being around him taught me how much communication matters and how every possession counts. On offense, he’s just so skilled, so it makes the game easier.”

Kidd said Dallas will experiment with both single-big and double-big lineups during camp, with Davis, Daniel Gafford, Lively and rookie Cooper Flagg all part of the mix.

“You can see a lot of teams are going with two bigs,” Kidd said. “For us, it’s going to be a balance. We’re very fortunate to have a lot of different options.”

Defensive Expectations

Kidd praised the competitiveness of the first practice in Vancouver, saying the players “executed at a high level” and his new assistants, including Frank Vogel and Jay Triano, established a strong presence.

Lively said defense must be the foundation of the Mavericks’ success. “We can be the best. Straight up,” he said. “It’s going to take communication and effort every night, but when you look at the length, the athleticism, and the mindset of the guys here, there’s no reason we can’t be dominant defensively.”

Flagg, making his training camp debut, agreed. “We’ve got a lot of tall, lengthy position players,” Flagg said. “Using that to our advantage, covering a lot of ground with our length—that’s going to help us. Having five guys on the court communicating and bought in to get stops every possession is what it’s all about.”

Looking Ahead

After a difficult rookie season, Lively said the biggest change this year will be consistency and accountability.

“Just being back out there with the guys,” he said. “Last year was tough, being sidelined. Now it’s about competing every night, growing, and showing what this team can really do when we’re healthy.”

For Lively and the Mavericks, training camp in Vancouver is the first step in setting a new standard. And for the young center, it all comes back to the same message: turn the page and focus on the future.

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Grant Afseth

Senior Writer

Grant Afseth is a Senior Writer for DallasHoopsJournal.com, where he leads in-depth coverage of the Mavericks, Wings, and more. Between a focus on the latest news, closer looks at games, front office strategy, and more, Afseth provides objective coverage. Afseth contributes broader NBA coverage across platforms and has been cited in national outlets for his reporting and analysis. With nearly a decade of journalism experience, Afseth has covered the NBA and WNBA for multiple major outlets, including Athlon Sports, BallIsLife, Sportskeeda, and RG.org. He previously reported on the Indiana Pacers for CNHI’s Kokomo Tribune and the Mavericks for FanNation.

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