Dallas big man Dereck Lively II is adding to his leadership skills.
Earlier in the week, Lively II was seen coaching up some youngsters at the Nike Academy giving these young men some pointers. This is while he was working out with another star center, Myles Turner from the Indiana Pacers.
The bigger picture: Lively II is comfortable hearing his own voice speak to young players and stepping up as a leader when needed.
The incoming second-year man has already shown this attitude during his rookie season, and if he continues to add on to this skill, it could take the Mavericks to the promised land in 2025.
Dereck Lively II’s vocal leadership will make a difference for Mavericks
Lively II has clearly shown signs of growth during his rookie campaign with Dallas. He has been compared to NBA greats, meaning his ceiling is to grow even more as he gets older.
Here he was seen showing leadership during the Nike Academy giving pointers to young players.
Dereck Lively giving back to the next generation of bigs is what makes Nike Academy a 1 of 1 experience.✔️ pic.twitter.com/2XMBdVQHc2
— EliteYouthBasketball (@NikeEYB) August 7, 2024
As a 20-year-old who just finished his rookie year in Dallas, it would be rare for someone Lively II’s age to be a vocal leader already, but this isn’t rare for Dallas fans to see.
During his rookie season, we’ve seen Lively II be vocal toward his fellow superstar teammate, Luka Doncic. Lively II gave Doncic some pointers on the topic of avoiding getting heated toward officials.
Lively II also showed resiliency in arguably the toughest year of his life. His mother passed away. His teammates were right there to have his back. That alone was something that could’ve affected Lively II’s game tremendously, but it didn’t. Instead, he held his head high and continued to dominate as a high-IQ player on the court.
This was a magical season for the Dallas Mavericks, but for Lively II, his skill as a pick-and-roll man with Doncic alone is reason to believe he could become a Dallas legend if he stays for the long run. His vocal leadership has already been noticed along with his mental toughness.
If his leadership qualities continue to rise, Dallas will be in a prime position to compete for a championship for years to come.
