Lively II puts the league on notice for overlooking Mavericks' rising third star

The Dallas Mavericks are playing some of their best basketball of the season at the quarter mark of the season, and Luka Doncic's return to the lineup following his wrist sprain couldn't have come at a better time.

Dallas is now 2-0 since Doncic returned to the lineup following Sunday night's victory over the Portland Trail Blazers and Tuesday night's clutch win over the Memphis Grizzlies, and they are cooking with gas as 2025 quickly approaches. While Doncic has been outstanding in his first two games since returning to the lineup as he has dropped 35 or more points in both games, the play of the role players has been unbelievable as well.

Spencer Dinwiddie is reviving his career with Dallas after a rough season with the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets last season, and emerging into one of the lead guards off the bench due to his reliability and poise.

P.J. Washington is also playing his best basketball of the year right now, and he is looking like a star in the making. In 17 games this season, Washington is averaging 12.8 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 46.6 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from downtown. He has shown huge improvements as a rebounder (up 3.0 rebounds per game compared to last year) and 3-point shooter (up 6.5 percent), and he is putting the league on notice.

Lively II dives into how Washington is Dallas' unsung hero

After the win over Memphis, Dereck Lively II was asked if he thinks that people around the league outside of Dallas realize how good Washington is, and he didn't hold back.

"If they don’t watch the game and they just look at the stats, no," Lively II said. "But if they watch the game and see how much dirty work he’s doing, he’s on the floor, he’s gambling for loose balls, he’s trying to get a jump ball, he’s trying to get rebounds, he’s trying to attack the rim, he’s trying to shoot the ball."

As Lively II said, the stats don't tell the entire story for Washington. Dallas is much better when he is on the floor and in the lineup, and when he is out, they typically struggle. Washington's energy and effort are irreplaceable, as we saw late in the game against Memphis, and the numbers back that up.

The Mavs are 1-4 without Washington this season, with their one win being over the 9-13 Chicago Bulls. Dallas is 13-4 with Washington in the lineup, and since the start of November, they have only lost two games that he has played in. His role as the team's starting power forward is more valuable than those outside of Big D realize, and every single part of his game confirms that.

Even though he is passing, rebounding, defending, and shooting as well as he ever has, he isn't getting the respect that he deserves. Washington is turning into one of the most important players on the squad due to his versatility, energy, and unique skillset, and Lively II's description of him gave fans the perfect look into the type of player that he is.

He is always bringing effort and energy, and doing all of the little things, and that is on top of his reliable jumper, lockdown defense, and ever-growing playmaking and skill in the open floor. Washington has turned into an indispensable piece for the Mavs, and if he can keep these strong performances up, he could end up being the type of player who ends up turning into a household name in Dallas for years to come.