The Dallas Mavericks will have to play out the season without a key big man.

Dereck Lively II will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign after having surgery on his right foot, the team announced on Wednesday.

He is expected to make a full recovery in time for training camp next season, the team said.

The oft-injured former Duke player has been limited to seven games following off-season foot surgery and a knee issue this season.

Lively, the third-year player, was plagued by injuries in his first two seasons as well. The 21-year-old played in 55 games as a rookie, when the Mavericks reached the NBA Finals before losing to Boston in five games. He played just 36 games last season, dealing mostly with a stress fracture in his foot.

He averaged just 4.3 points and 5.3 rebounds in a

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