Cooper Flagg
January 2026
Flagg sprained his left ankle and was ruled out for the second half, raising doubts for the next game. He rolled the ankle after stepping on a foot while falling. It was the same ankle he tweaked two games earlier, and Dallas opted to sit him after the break.
Dereck Lively II
December 2025
Dallas confirmed Lively will have season-ending surgery on his right foot after weeks of swelling and soreness limited him to seven games, where he averaged 4.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 16.4 minutes. The 21-year-old’s latest setback follows previous foot issues that restricted him to 55 and then 36 games in his first two seasons, compounding Dallas’ injury problems with Kyrie Irving still out after ACL surgery and putting more on Anthony Davis as the team fights from 11th in the West.
Dallas Mavericks
November 2025
Dallas center Dereck Lively II will miss at least the next three games while specialists assess swelling and discomfort in his right foot, extending an injury-plagued start to the season for the 21-year-old big man after prior surgeries and limited appearances. Lively’s latest setback comes with the Mavericks already without Anthony Davis, out 14 games with a calf strain, and Kyrie Irving, recovering from an ACL tear. Dallas sit 5-14 and second-bottom in the West, with coaching staff promising a clearer return timetable in seven to ten days.
Dereck Lively II (Dallas Mavericks)
October 2025
Dallas exercised Lively’s 2026-27 option after back-to-back seasons above 70% FG and Rising Stars selections, validating his rim-running and shot-blocking value beside Luka Dončić and co. The move preserves cost control entering his prime development window. Lively’s vertical spacing, drop coverage, and improving short-roll reads fit Dallas’ heliocentric offense. Option security supports roster flexibility for a backup big and shooting depth while maintaining defensive ceiling outcomes in playoff matchups.
Dereck Lively II (Dallas Mavericks)
July 2025
Mavericks center Dereck Lively II has undergone surgery to clean up bone spurs in his right foot. He is expected to be fully healthy and available for training camp in September.
Lively missed significant time last season with a stress fracture in the same ankle. Despite early injury struggles, he remains a core piece in a frontcourt featuring Anthony Davis and No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg.