The Smoking Cuban
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Dirk Nowitzki thinks Dereck Lively II will follow his legendary footsteps

By Jared A’Latorre

Dallas Mavericks, Dereck Lively II
Dallas Mavericks, Dereck Lively II / Tim Heitman/GettyImages
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One Mavs legend is giving love to a young star.

Dereck Lively II is an up-and-coming player in the NBA. He lit up the league with his shot-blocking abilities. He proved to be a solid player for Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving in the pick-and-roll game.

Now, he's getting praise from the greatest Dallas Maverick in history.

Dirk Nowitzki puts high bar for Dereck Lively II

Dirk Nowitzki is not only putting Lively II on a high bar but also comparing him to a fellow champion, Tyson Chandler. Nowitzki also said "sky's the limit" when referring to Lively II.

This is praise we've heard from players and reporters before.

Over the summer, one NBA insider compared Lively II with some NBA greats.

Lively II has elite potential following an NBA Finals appearance in his rookie year. He'll have a lot more to offer during his second season.

Lively II getting this praise from a former Maverick great means a lot. Nowitzki knows what it takes to win a championship and to comparing him to Tyson Chandler is a giant positive.

Chandler was a defensive anchor who was a vocal leader to his team. He was the monster down low that held the fort down. He would provide emphatic jams to get the crowd going.

Lively II's skill is expanding beyond Chandler's range.

Lively II is working on a perimeter jumper that will be crucial to his growth as a player. Just being the rim protector that he establishes himself to be is badly needed, but developing a jumper would be massive for the team.

Lively II was a young product from Duke that showed lots of potential. He's only grown since then. Being alongside Doncic definitely has helped him get better, and for Doncic, we could argue that Lively II has helped him get better too.

Nowitzki was a rare gem in the NBA during his time, he could play like a point forward for the early part of his career. Lively II won't be that, but this team getting good looks all season long will be crucial if the Mavericks are able to hit shots.

Mavs fans need to realize that they hit the jackpot in the 2023 NBA Draft with Lively II. Having a big man with the abilities that Lively II does will work well in the long run. Lively II was a quiet talent that not many people were sure about. Now, with Lively II likely to get the starting nod in 2024, this will only improve the team even more with a chance to get back to the NBA Finals.