It’s all about health for Dereck Lively II heading into his third NBA season.

Lively’s health was the reason he stagnated in Year Two instead of taking the big leap forward many predicted before the 2024-25 campaign. First it was the mysterious “illness” that forced him to miss games starting in late November 2024. A week later, in early December, there was a knee issue. Later that month, it was a hip. Then, the ankle injury in January and a procedure to remove bone spurs from his right foot in the offseason.

Is that big leap coming this season? Only if Lively can stay on the court for more than 36 games.

For all the promise he shows when healthy, entering Year Three, Lively is very much what his stat line shows him to be. So far, through 91 career NBA games, he’s an eight-and-eight guy

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