Former Duke basketball star Dereck Lively II will miss the remainder of the 2025 NBA regular season as he will undergo a right foot procedure due to lingering discomfort. The center appeared in seven games this season, but is expected to make a full recovery and be ready to go by next season's training camp.
Lively, the 12th overall pick by the Dallas Mavericks in the 2023 NBA Draft, has been a major contributor for the franchise since he entered the league, establishing himself as one of the most promising young bigs in the NBA. The 7'1, 230-pound center averaged 8.