DALLAS, July 15, 2025 — Dereck Lively II, the Dallas Mavericks’ promising big man, underwent surgery on his right foot to address bone spurs that plagued him throughout the 2024-25 season.
Mavericks Face Another Injury Setback With Lively’s Surgery
Dereck Lively II had surgery for bone spurs, aiming for a full recovery by training camp.
- Dereck Lively II had successful foot surgery for bone spurs.
- He is expected to be ready for training camp.
- Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis also face injury recovery.
- The Mavericks are dealing with significant health concerns for key players.
The 21-year-old center, who has played in just 91 games across his first two seasons since being drafted 10th overall in the 2023 NBA Draft, missed over half of the 2024-25 season due to a foot injury. While he returned for four games late in the season, it marked a largely lost sophomore campaign for the former Duke standout.
The surgery, reported Tuesday by Marc Stein and Shams Charania, was performed despite an initial hope that the bone spurs would resolve without intervention. The good news for both Lively and the Mavericks is the expectation of a full recovery by the start of training camp. However, the procedure means Lively will miss valuable offseason time dedicated to skill development.
Looking ahead to the 2025-26 season, the Mavericks harbor significant aspirations. These hopes are contingent on their top players being healthy and available. Currently, the health of three key players presents a major question mark. Kyrie Irving is recovering from a torn ACL and is likely to miss the first half of the season. Anthony Davis underwent surgery earlier this summer to repair a detached retina. Now, Lively will be in a walking boot after his foot surgery.
Given these widespread injury issues, the decision to limit No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg’s summer league participation after just two games is understandable. Flagg showcased his abilities, and the team opted to avoid any unnecessary risks for a couple of additional exhibitions in Las Vegas. The hope is that Lively will be fully ready when camp begins, that his surgery effectively addresses future bone spur problems, and that both Davis and Irving remain on schedule for their returns to the court.
The Mavericks possess the potential to be a formidable contender in the Western Conference and could emerge as one of the league’s most intriguing teams. However, after a challenging 2024-25 season, they desperately need a change in fortune regarding player health.
