Dereck Lively II has quickly become a cornerstone for the Dallas Mavericks, contributing significantly during his rookie campaign and following it up with a promising second season. Drafted from Duke, Lively's performance earned him a spot on the NBA's All-Rookie Second Team, and he continued to garner fan support in Dallas as he faced personal challenges, including the loss of his mother to Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Comparisons to former Maverick Tyson Chandler highlight his potential in the league as he develops his offensive game, particularly his 3-point shooting, which showed promise during pre-draft workouts. As the Mavericks look toward a potential third season leap for Lively, his ability to recover from injuries will be key.