The Mavericks benefit from 2022-23 Duke basketball one-and-done Dereck Lively II being back on the court.
A little more than two weeks have passed since Dallas Mavericks rookie Dereck Lively II broke his nose playing in a 116-93 victory over the San Antonio Spurs at home. Lively II was injured by Orlando Magic big man and fellow Duke graduate Wendell Carter Jr.
Lively, who entered the NBA Draft with the No. 12 pick overall and is currently ranked No. 7 on the Kia Rookie Ladder, finished the game with eight points, five rebounds, one assist, and four blocks without drawing a foul or making a mistake.
RELATED: All-Time Duke First-Round NBA Draft Selections
Despite the distraction caused by having to wear a bulky protective mask, the 7-foot-1 center, who was a full-time starter prior to the injury, shot 3-for-5 from the field and 2-for-2 at the foul line. And in his 17 minutes off the bench, he recorded a plus-minus of +27, which was a game-high.
Dereck Lively II is shooting an incredible 73.6 percent from the field and averaging 9.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in 37 games. The 20-year-old leads the league in field goal % this season, with the exception of the first quarter, according to StatMuse. Observe how the next quarter’s value has increased:
The Mavericks (32-23), who are currently seventh in the Western Conference, won for the sixth straight game on Wednesday night. In his team-high 33 minutes as a starter, guar
d Kyrie Irving, their other NBA Blue Devil, topped all scorers with 34 points. In addition to his scorching 15-for-22 shooting from the field, Irving added nine rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and one block.
Tre Jones, the starting floor general for the Spurs and a Duke basketball treasure, had a dismal shooting night, going 0-for-4 from three. Despite this, he finished his 20 minutes with zero turnovers and just four points, four rebounds, and two assists. Remaining at the bottom of the West standings is San Antonio (11-44).
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RELATED: All-Time Duke First-Round NBA Draft Selections
Despite the distraction caused by having to wear a bulky protective mask, the 7-foot-1 center, who was a full-time starter prior to the injury, shot 3-for-5 from the field and 2-for-2 at the foul line. And in his 17 minutes off the bench, he recorded a plus-minus of +27, which was a game-high.
The Mavericks (32-23), who are currently seventh in the Western Conference, won for the sixth straight game on Wednesday night. In his team-high 33 minutes as a starter, guard Kyrie Irving, their other NBA Blue Devil, topped all scorers with 34 points. In addition to his scorching 15-for-22 shooting from the field, Irving added nine rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and one block.
Tre Jones, the starting floor general for the Spurs and a Duke basketball treasure, had a dismal shooting night, going 0-for-4 from three. Despite this, he finished his 20 minutes with zero turnovers and just four points, four rebounds, and two assists. Remaining at the bottom of the West standings is San Antonio (11-44).
It’s hard to keep track of the numerous, constantly-changing number of former Duke basketball players in the NBA and to recall their whereabouts.
Exchanges. Drafts. autonomy. fresh agreements. contracts that expired. Releases. Retirements.
For those who wish to keep track of the NBA Blue Devils but find it difficult to remember who plays where each season, this list is updated here whenever any relevant moves occur. Let’s dive straight into this basic inventory of Duke players who are eligible for an NBA deal that is guaranteed to expire.
