Age

19.5

Height

7'1''

Weight

215

Workload

MIN%

48

USG%

13

TS%

66

Per 70 Possession Stats

PTS

11.6

REB

10.8

AST

2.4

STL

1.1

BLK

5.0

TOV

1.4

Efficiency

RIM FG%

77

MID FG%

13

3PT FG%

15

FT%

60

Jump to full report

Report by: Tyler Wilson

Dereck Lively II

Big Duke

Throwback rim runner big with game changing potential as a shot blocker

Age

19.5

Height

7'1''

Weight

215

Per 70 Possession Stats

PTS

11.6

REB

10.8

AST

2.4

STL

1.1

BLK

5.0

Positions Defended

Offensive Role

 

Defensive Role

   

Meet Dereck Lively II

Dereck Lively enrolled at Duke last as the centerpiece to one of the most decorated recruiting classes in recent memory. Despite his five-star pedigree, Lively had an incredibly narrow role offensively while captaining the defense on the other end. What made Lively one of the most impactful freshmen in the country, and what areas could see minor improvement result in major impact?

Offense

Lively’s offensive role was that of a limited big man: screen, rim run and crash the glass. There wasn’t much room to spread his wings, but he thrived in the space he was provided. Lively finished the season with over 50 dunks, a true shooting percentage of 65.7, an offensive rebound percentage of 12.3 and a positive assist-to-turnover ratio. While that doesn’t result in star production, Lively thrived in his role as an offensive stimulant: greasing the wheels and dominating his role. 

As a rim running big, Lively has the foundation of a functional NBA skillset. Standing at over seven feet tall with surprising vertical ferocity, Lively was one of the most effective lob threats in the country. His non-dunk finishing was concerning in terms of efficiency, but that picture is clouded by a lack of volume. It is hard to have a definitive assessment regarding his overall touch considering how small the sample size was this year, even if the results were discouraging. 

As a passer, Lively had encouraging moments passing out of both the short roll and dribble handoff actions. Towering over most opponents, Lively has access to sight lines others do not, and he showed an increased confidence in executing reads as the year went on. While his assist numbers hardly jump off the page, the spacing around him at Duke was exceedingly poor. The process was solid, and a ~10 assist percentage is incredibly encouraging for an 18-year-old big. 

Is there any hope of a shot? Maybe? Shooting around ~60% for a big is essentially the bare minimum for “can he kind of shoot it one day?”. The form isn’t particularly discouraging, but the actual percentages are really poor. It doesn’t sound like much, but being willing to attempt 13 threes this year is, historically, a relatively positive indicator. 

Defense

On the other end of the court, Dereck Lively is a shot-blocking menace. His block rate of 12.3% was incredibly impressive for a freshman, and he got it done in just about every way possible. He was a menace rotating to the rim as a helper throughout the entire season. 

To begin the year, Lively struggled to operate in space on the perimeter and in the pick and roll, but steadily improved as the year went along. By the time the year came to a close, Lively had grown into one of the most effective big man defenders in the draft. 

It is hard to put into words how effective his timing and tools are as a shotblocker. Very few freshman bigs make a genuine difference defensively, but Lively did. There are certainly areas to be cleaned up on the defensive glass and in general technique, but he isn’t missing anything. 

This video from the honorable @_prezidente checks every box from quality of competition to a variety of different shot contests.. You see help rotations at the rim, pick and roll defense, chase down blocks in transition and even a few blocked jumpers. When it comes to defensive upside, the ceiling is the roof. 

Lively is dominant in an almost Duncan-esque manner, blocking shots he has no business contesting while barely leaving the ground. There are moments with aerial displays of physical dominance, but it is the subtle brilliance of timing and hand placement that sets Lively apart from other big man prospects. 

Lively will have more scheme versatility than your typical true center, showing the ability to play at the level with ease with dreams of hard hedges and opportunistic switches. There were moments of foul-happy block hunting, but he showed real patience as the season went along. 

Rarely were his fouls abhorrent, but rather the growing pains of a big man learning how to use his body effectively. Lively rarely shied away from challenges at the rim and has all the tools to win more of those battles than most. Lively will need to add strength and a little foul discipline once he’s in the league, but you will be hard pressed to find many teenage big men that are this ready to defend in the league. Dereck Lively is an outlier where it matters most.

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