‘Making Major Progress’: Dusty May Updates Dereck Lively II’s Return From Third Right Foot Surgery

DALLAS — Dereck Lively II is making major progress in his return from right foot surgery, Mavericks coach Dusty May said Friday, though May said he did not know the center’s timetable before the Dallas Mavericks faced the Houston Rockets.

Dallas ruled Lively out again for the 7 p.m. CT tip-off at American Airlines Center. He has not played since Nov. 21, 2025, and he appeared in seven games last season before a December operation that was the third on his right foot in a calendar year.

Earlier in the same availability, May named Lively, whom he called “D-Live,” and Santi Aldama as the two players Dallas still has on the sidelines when he talked about the Mavericks’ depth. The first time May saw Lively running was a month or two ago.

“Just to see someone that big, agile, that communicates. It’s a lob threat, rim presence on both sides of the ball,” May said. “If you have someone that can impact the rim on offense and defense like he does, but also just the live body and energy. You just don’t see. I mean, the first time I saw him running, whatever, a month or two ago, I said 7-2 guys aren’t supposed to run that easy.”

“And so he’s going to add a lot. I don’t know what his timetable is, but he’s making major progress. He looks great,” May continued. “But he’s still going through his process.”

Dereck Lively II Has Missed All Five Games

Lively sat out all of Dallas’ preseason, including both games against Houston in Macao on Oct. 9 and Oct. 11. He has also missed all five regular-season games, three of which the Mavericks won.

Dallas acquired Lively on draft night in 2023 after the Oklahoma City Thunder selected him 12th overall. As a rookie in 2023-24, he was part of the Mavericks team that reached the NBA Finals.

The Dallas Mavericks’ Frontcourt Without Lively

Against Oklahoma City on Wednesday, Daniel Gafford made the first 3-pointer of his career in his 438th regular-season game and finished with 7 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks in 26:40. Rookie Morez Johnson Jr., the ninth overall pick in June, is playing on a minutes restriction, and Aldama is doubtful again Friday as he works back from right knee surgery.

Dallas waived center Dwight Powell on Oct. 19, and he is finalizing a deal with Fenerbahçe. May said Friday that the Mavericks like a lot of things about a small-ball lineup without a traditional center, which he said gives them “more of a stretch-five look” against teams that switch one through five.

For Houston, Alperen Şengün is questionable with low back soreness after sitting out Wednesday’s 132-100 win at Milwaukee, and Steven Adams is out with a right soleus strain. In the Oct. 21 opener, Şengün had 23 points and 10 rebounds in Houston’s 128-110 win. The Mavericks host the Sacramento Kings on Monday.