Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II underwent a successful procedure to remove bone spurs from his right foot, according to ESPNs Shams Charania and NBA insider Marc Stein.
The 21-year-old big man is expected to recover in time for training camp later this year.
Lively, entering his third NBA season, has already dealt with his share of setbacks. After a strong rookie campaign that saw him play a pivotal role during Dallas run to the NBA Finals, injuries derailed his sophomore season.
Limited to just 36 games last year due to a right ankle stress fracture, Lively still averaged 8.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.6 blocks in 23 minutes per game. He returned in April for four games, posting 5.5 points and 4.8 rebounds in 15 minutes per outing, but was clearly not at full strength.
Lively, 21, is the third key member of the Mavericks who will be undergoing rehab this summer, along with Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis, ESPN reported.
Irving suffered a torn ACL late last season and is expected to miss most of 2025-26. Davis, who had surgery to repair a detached retina, is projected to return for camp.
Injuries were a major theme for Dallas last season, and the organization made sweeping changes to its strength and conditioning staff this summer.
General manager Nico Harrison previously downplayed concerns about Lively needing further procedures, telling reporters in April he did not believe Lively would need any future surgeries related to the ankle injury. But just months later, the Mavericks moved forward with this cleanup operation.
With No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg headlining a revamped roster alongside Lively, Davis, Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington, Dallas is banking on a healthy frontcourt for a deep playoff push. But after last seasons avalanche of injuries all eyes will be on how the Mavericks new medical team manages its stars.
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