(Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Not many NBA rookies get to play significant minutes in the playoffs.
Young teams often struggle at this stage because of their lack of experience, which is why some fans and analysts are hesitant to give them the nod despite their good outings in the regular season.
That’s not the case with Dereck Lively and the Dallas Mavericks, though.
The reigning No. 12 pick has been huge for Jason Kidd’s team right out of the gate, and he’s made a huge impact in his first trip to the postseason.
As pointed out by StatMuse on Twitter, Lively recently joined the legendary Manu Ginobili as the only two rookies to be +85 or better in the playoffs this century.
Rookies to be +85 or better in the playoffs this century:
Manu Ginobili
Dereck Lively
That’s it. pic.twitter.com/hcKX9XTyRK
— StatMuse (@statmuse) May 20, 2024
Granted, Lively is doing so in his first year out of Duke, whereas Ginobili arrived in the NBA after years of playing professional basketball overseas.
Lively made it to the league as an old-school, defensive-oriented big man who would dominate both ends of the glass, swat and alter some shots, and make a living above the rim.
He’s lived up to those expectations and more.
The Mavs realized that they needed someone to do the same things as him, so they traded for Daniel Gafford, and they now have a two-headed big-man monster that has helped them have one of the best defenses in the game.
Lively clearly isn’t the flashiest player out there, but he’s averaged 8.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game on 74.7% from the floor, and he has a bright future in this league as a rim protector.
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