Dereck Lively II’s Foot Injury Raises Concern As Dallas Mavericks Return Home

Grant AfsethNovember 25, 2025November 25, 2025no comment

Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Dereck Lively II’s right foot has become a renewed source of concern for the Dallas Mavericks, with the 21-year-old center now facing the possibility of missing an extended period of time.

Complications appear to have surfaced around the same foot he had offseason surgery on, adding uncertainty to a frontcourt that has rarely been fully available.

Lively did not travel with the team to Miami. The Mavericks returned to Dallas on Tuesday with plans to practice on Wednesday. Lively is currently being evaluated for swelling and discomfort in his right foot. He will miss the team’s remaining three games of a four-game road trip, and a further timeline will be provided in approximately 7-10 days

His designation shifted from right knee injury management to right foot injury management while he was already sidelined. The shift is notable given that he underwent offseason surgery to clean up bone spurs in that foot — a procedure the team never formally announced.

Dallas Mavericks Injury Concerns Continue to Mount

The change in designation suggests Dallas is treating the matter as a potentially significant issue until further clarification is provided. Lively has struggled to maintain consistent availability early in his NBA career. He has appeared in just 91 regular-season games across his first two seasons, and the situation has only worsened in his third campaign.

His recent week underscores the uncertainty. Lively was probable with right knee injury management for Wednesday’s game against the New York Knicks. He was then unlisted on the injury report for Friday’s matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans and played 18 minutes, totaling four points, four rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block.

On Saturday, he was ruled out on the second night of a back-to-back against the Memphis Grizzlies with right knee injury management. Then on Sunday, the Mavericks submitted their injury report for Monday’s game in Miami with Lively listed under right ankle injury management. By Monday morning, his designation changed again — this time to right foot injury management — raising alarm bells given his offseason procedure and previous injury history.

The origin of his most significant setback dates back to last season. For several games leading up to Jan. 20, Lively was listed as questionable with a right ankle sprain, repeatedly appearing on the injury report before eventually sitting out multiple contests. When the team traveled to Charlotte on Jan. 20, he went through a full weight room workout and an on-court workout, then was downgraded from questionable to out, an unusual sequence at the time. He was expected to return two days later against the Minnesota Timberwolves, but a CT scan revealed a stress fracture in his right ankle — an injury that has remained an underlying issue in his career since.

This season has followed a similar pattern. Lively has played only five games, averaging 4.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in seven total appearances. He has also been playing on a 15-to-18 minute restriction, a measure intended to manage his workload after offseason foot surgery. His season high for minutes is 21 against the Toronto Raptors on Oct. 26, and he has played fewer than 20 minutes in all other outings.

Despite the limited minutes, the Mavericks have been noticeably better with Lively available. In 115 minutes with Lively on the court, Dallas has posted a 108.6 offensive rating, a 102.3 defensive rating, and a +6.3 net rating. In the 812 minutes he has been off the floor, those numbers shift dramatically to 103.9 on offense, 110.7 on defense, and a -6.8 net rating.

His latest foot concern threatens to keep him out for a lengthy stretch, complicating the Mavericks’ hopes of finally establishing stability among their bigs.

A Frontcourt Built on Depth Has Rarely Been Whole

Dallas built its roster around a deep rim-protecting core featuring Lively, Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford, and P.J. Washington, later adding No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg.

But the group has rarely been intact.

Since acquiring Davis in February, the Mavericks have played only seven regular-season games with Davis and Lively both available, along with two play-in tournament contests.

With Davis, Lively, and Gafford all active at the same time, the team has managed just three regular-season games and the same two play-in outings.

Additional uncertainty remains elsewhere on the roster.

Kyrie Irving suffered a torn ACL late last season and is expected to miss at least the bulk of next year. Davis underwent surgery to repair a detached retina but is expected to be healthy for training camp.

As the Mavericks move forward with a new core centered around Flagg and their frontcourt depth, Lively’s lingering foot complications leave one of their most important pieces in question.

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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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