Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively underwent surgery to clean up bone spurs in his right foot, according to multiple reports.
He’s expected to be ready to return to action in time for training camp.
Lively, 21, has been plagued by injuries since joining the Mavericks as the No. 12 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. He was limited to 55 games as a rookie and 36 games in 2024-25.
A stress fracture in his right ankle sidelined Lively in January of last season, and he didn’t return to the lineup until April. The surgery to remove bone spurs was on the same foot.
When healthy, Lively is a strong presence in the post as a defender and rebounder and a key to Dallas’ hopes to contend next season. He projects as Dallas’ starting center in a rotation that also features longtime NBA starter Daniel Gafford.
The center tandem allows Anthony Davis to play his preferred position of power forward. If Lively is sidelined longer than projected, Gafford would project to take his spot in the starting lineu;.
Lively joins Davis and Mavericks point guard Kyrie Irving in recovery this offseason. Davis recently underwent surgery to repair a detached retina in his right eye. Like Lively, he’s also expected to return in time for training camp.
Irving is still recovering from a torn ACL sustained last season. A precise timeline for his return isn’t clear, but he’s expected to miss the start of the season. The Mavericks signed veteran point guard D’Angelo Russell in the offseason.
The stakes in Dallas are high for the upcoming season in the aftermath of the Luka Dončić trade and the acquisition of Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 pick in the draft. The Mavericks are hoping to contend for an NBA championship after missing the playoffs last season in the aftermath of trading Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers. Remaining healthy will be key to those hopes.
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