One Injury Could Make or Break the Mavericks' Year

The Dallas Mavericks are going through major changes right now. They have a brand new coach. The front office looks completely different too. On top of that, a ton of new players joined the team this summer. But here's the thing. Some things never change. Dallas still has two proven stars in Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg. The problem is everyone else keeps getting hurt.

The biggest concern might be what happens in the middle of the court. Dereck Lively II plays center for the Mavericks. When he's on his game, he's a difference-maker. The dude can block shots with the best of them. His length and energy change how the whole defense operates. But staying healthy has been a real struggle for him since he came into the league in 2023.

Think about this. Lively appeared in 55 games during his first year. That number keeps dropping though. In January 2025, he got hurt. The team thought it was just a sprained ankle at first. Turns out it was a stress fracture in his foot. That misdiagnosis cost him most of the rest of the season. He came back near the end and played in the Play-In Tournament. But he clearly wasn't himself. He only managed 36 games that year. Then last summer, doctors removed bone spurs from the same foot. He played just 7 games before needing another surgery on that foot. Three procedures on one foot in less than a year. That's a lot for anyone, especially a seven-foot player who already had injury worries coming out of college.

Franchise legend Dirk Nowitzki knows what this team needs. He told reporters that Lively's health could determine everything. "He's such a game changer when he's healthy," Nowitzki said. "His length, his activity, his defense. Man, he's good." But then he asked the real question. "Is he going to be out there? Is he going to miss some time early?" That uncertainty hangs over the whole organization right now.

Here's what makes Lively special when he's actually playing. He's not just a shot-blocker. His passing stands out the most. He catches the ball while rolling toward the basket, then fires it out to an open teammate on the perimeter. That skill transforms the entire offense. The Mavericks could really use that right now. Training camp starts at the end of the month. Soon we'll find out if this big man can finally stay on the court.