Dallas Mavericks heart Dereck Vigorous II has reportedly undergone surgical procedure on the precise foot damage that restricted him to 36 video games (29 begins) within the 2024-25 season, NBA insider Marc Stein reported Tuesday. His foot was positioned in a boot after the process, and the 21-year-old is predicted to be wholesome for coaching camp.
Dereck Vigorous II Joins Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis On Damage Report
Vigorous was chosen twelfth total by the Mavs within the 2023 NBA draft out of Duke. The 7-foot-1 massive man completed sixth in Rookie of the Yr voting after averaging 8.8 factors, 6.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 23.5 minutes per contest in 55 video games (42 begins) of the 2023-24 marketing campaign.
Final season, Vigorous averaged 8.7 factors, 7.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.6 blocks, and 23.1 minutes whereas capturing 70.2% from the sector and 63% from the foul line.
He recorded eight double-doubles and scored a season-high 21 factors in Dallas’ 117-111 house win over the Portland Path Blazers on Jan. 9.
Vigorous joins a rising checklist of key gamers who’re injured for the Mavericks. All-Star level guard Kyrie Irving is recovering from a torn ACL that may maintain him sideline till at the least January 2026, whereas celebrity ahead Anthony Davis underwent eye surgical procedure this summer time.
In April, Stein and Jake Fischer reported that Vigorous’s damage “brought on what league sources describe as some vital tensions inside the group, together with a notable blowup between director of participant well being and efficiency Johann Bilsborough and athletic efficiency director Keith Belton.”
Mavericks Could Permit Vigorous To Try 3-Pointers Subsequent Season
Throughout No. 1 total choose Cooper Flagg’s introductory press convention, minority proprietor Mark Cuban hinted at a strategic change involving Vigorous, who might shift into a contemporary stretch 5 heart position. Cuban’s plan contains Vigorous taking two to a few 3-point makes an attempt per sport.
“Mark Cuban simply talked about Dereck Vigorous II probably taking 2-3 threes per sport subsequent season and giving Dallas the flexibility to play five-out,” Noah Weber of The Smoking Cuban posted not too long ago on X.
Based on Basketball Reference, Vigorous has tried simply two 3-pointers within the common season over his two-year profession. His lone deep shot was made throughout Sport 4 of the 2024 NBA Finals.
Vigorous has demonstrated his long-range capturing potential in pregame warmups. His spectacular shot from past the arc in opposition to the Boston Celtics may need been a fluke.
Nevertheless, nobody will know for positive till Cuban’s imaginative and prescient turns into an actual factor. Both method, this will not matter if he’s unable to remain wholesome subsequent season. That may be a should if he needs to succeed in his full potential.
