Dereck Lively II Shares Heartfelt Messages for his Mother
It’s hard to imagine a more heartbreaking event happening at such a critical time. Hours before the Dallas Mavericks played their final 2024 regular season home game, Dereck Lively II‘s mother tragically passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer. In spite of the intensity and emotion, Lively II has been delivering for the Mavericks and for his mother.
In defiance of the circumstances, and on top of being a rookie, Dereck Lively II had himself a solid outing in the Western Conference Finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves. He out-rebounded and out-blocked reigning DPOY Rudy Gobert at 7.8 and 1.5 per game, respectively. Lively II’s best stat came on offense where he contributed 9.5 points per game on a perfect 16-16 performance. He is the first player ever to shoot 100% on that many attempts in a playoff series.
The tragic passing of his mother has, of course, been difficult for Lively II. In a pregame interview on May 26, he called the recent months “taxing”. He’s in good hands, though, and is grateful for his family teammates who have been “tremendously” helpful to him. Following the Mavericks 124-103 game five and series win, Lively II was thinking of his mom. Still on the court, he told a reporter “I just wish my mama was here…this sh*t mean the world to me.” Later that night, Lively II shared a celebratory Instagram story from the Mavericks locker room. The caption read “Just keep watching from above”. As the Dallas Mavericks get ready to take on the Boston Celtics for the 2024 NBA Title, there’s no doubt that he will keep channeling this energy. Make your mama proud, Dereck.
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