By The Numbers: Mavs’ Dereck Lively Is A Rising Defensive Star

When the Dallas Mavericks selected Dereck Lively II with the 12th pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, few expected him to make an immediate impact. The 7-foot-1 center out of Duke was seen as a long-term project, someone with a high defensive ceiling but who needed time to develop his NBA game.

Fast forward to the playoffs, and Lively was not only contributing—he was thriving, showing flashes of becoming one of the best rim protectors in the league. One stat in particular highlighted just how dominant he was in his rookie postseason: opponents shot only 42.9 percent at the rim when defended by Lively.

For context, Rudy Gobert, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year and one of the most dominant rim protectors in recent memory, held opponents to 49.4 percent shooting at the rim during the regular season. The fact that Lively, at just 20 years old, posted significantly better numbers in the pressure-filled environment of the playoffs is nothing short of extraordinary.

Lively’s playoff performance exceeded expectations, especially considering he wasn’t supposed to be a major contributor right away. As a rookie big man, there’s typically a steep learning curve when it comes to NBA defense.

The speed, physicality, and complexity of the game at the highest level usually takes time to adjust to, particularly for centers tasked with anchoring a defense. Yet, Lively embraced his role, providing the Mavericks with a defensive anchor in key moments.

His 42.9 percent defensive field goal percentage at the rim speaks to his timing, positioning, and natural shot-blocking ability. Lively used his 7-8 wingspan to alter shots, while his quick lateral movement and instincts allowed him to effectively switch on screens and stay in front of some of the best offensive players in the league. His impact wasn't just felt in blocked shots but also in the way he deterred opposing players from attacking the basket altogether.

To fully appreciate the significance of Lively’s postseason numbers, it’s important to compare them to those of Rudy Gobert. As one of the best low-post defenders in the NBA, Gobert has won multiple Defensive Player of the Year awards and has consistently ranked among the league’s best in rim protection.

While Gobert often struggled to guard in space on the perimeter and in pick and roll situations, his 49.4 percent rim defensive field goal percentage during the 2023-24 regular season was the best in the NBA.

Yet Lively, in his first-ever playoff appearance, outperformed Gobert’s regular-season numbers by a wide margin. This kind of production, especially from a rookie, is rare and speaks to Lively’s potential to become an elite defensive presence as he continues to grow.

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Given his rookie season and playoff performance, it’s hard not to be excited about Lively’s trajectory heading into his sophomore season. The Dallas Mavericks will be looking for him to take on an even larger role defensively, and if he can build on his playoff success, the sky is the limit.

At 20 years old, Lively is still learning the finer points of NBA-level defense, and his continued development in positioning, pick-and-roll coverage, and footwork will only improve with experience.

A common theme for young big men is taking a significant leap between their first and second years. Lively has already demonstrated he can defend at an elite level in crucial games, and with another year of experience, it's reasonable to expect him to become even more dominant this season.

If Lively can carry his playoff performance into the 2024-2025 regular season, he could be in the conversation for All-Defensive honors—and potentially help Dallas make another run at the Larry O’Brien Trophy.