For years, the center position has been a persistent question mark for the Dallas Mavericks. The roster has seen a revolving door of big men, each bringing their strengths and weaknesses to the table. Names like Dwight Powell, JaVale McGee, Christian Wood, Kristaps Porzingis, Willie Cauley-Stein, and fan favorite Boban Marjanović have all taken turns manning the middle for Dallas.
While these players provided spurts of production, the Mavericks struggled to find consistency at the position. Injuries plagued some, while others simply didn’t mesh with head coach Jason Kidd’s offensive and defensive schemes. The lack of a reliable anchor in the paint has been a thorn in the side of the Mavericks’ championship aspirations.
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However, the 2023 season marked a significant turning point for Dallas, and not just because of their impressive run to the NBA Finals. The emergence of rookie center Dereck Lively II brought a much-needed injection of toughness and defensive prowess to the position. Lively’s ability to protect the rim and anchor the defense harkened back to the days of Tyson Chandler, a key piece of the Mavericks’ 2011 championship team.