Adam Silver has cut some slack for the Mavs amid the draft pick controversy. The league had slapped a sanction of $750,000 on Dallas for engaging in “conduct detrimental to the league”, violating the NBA’s player resting policy and, in turn losing the last two games of the 2022-23 regular season to earn a spot in the top-10 draft picks. Fortunately, it served well for them, as they roped in rookie sensation Dereck Lively II. However, a year later, the controversy comes back to the surface as the Mavs have made a dominant entry into the NBA Finals to face the Celtics.

During the pre-game presser, a reporter brought up the Dereck Lively II situation to Adam Silver. The NBA Commissioner didn’t try to take the credit away from the Dallas side and stood by them. He said, “In terms of what Dallas did last year. We sanctioned them, we did what we thought was appropriate at that time. I will only say that the success saw this season, playoffs, and here, they are in the Finals. I don’t attribute it to one draft pick that is important. That draft pick has been to that team.”

Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving‘s association has been the story of the Mavericks’ success in the postseason. The duo even created history when they became the first backcourt duo in the last 50 years to at least 30 points each three times in a playoff. Moreover, they cut right through the best backcourt duo in the league, sidelining the Dubs’ famous Splash Brothers. 

But one cannot take away the impact that Dereck Lively II has brought to the franchise. The league even honored him with the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. It was the first time since Doncic’s 2018-19 season when a Mavs rookie got himself that revered spot!

Did Dereck Lively II actually make all the difference?

One might even argue that the Mavs failed to qualify for the playoffs in 2022-23, despite having Kyrie Irving by their side. And, directly attribute this season’s success to Lively II. Moreover, the Mavs superstar’s particular statement has also contributed to the argument. The Dallas side had a hard-fought battle against the OKC Thunder in the semi-final series and eventually won the series.

Following the series, Doncic said, “We wouldn’t win this series without D-Live. He’s been playing amazing. For a rookie, not being scared…it’s insane how he plays. The way he impacts the game [is] just amazing.” The rookie played 55 games in the regular season, struggling with a few injuries, and averaged 8.8 points with 6.9 rebounds. He replicated a similar performance in the postseason, averaging 8.6 points, and 7.2 rebounds along with 1.2 blocks per game.

At the same time, it’s unfair to write off the Mavs by attributing their Finals entry to a draft pick. Instead of giving him the entire credit for carrying the Mavs to the big stage, he can be considered as the X factor for the side. Plenty of credit should probably reach Jason Kidd for mixing up his two big men in the proportion. Lively, despite coming off the bench, he isn’t considered as a backup center. Kidd equally split 20 minutes each between Daniel Gafford and Lively to keep the rim protection alive.

Speaking of his role in the side, Lively said, “I didn’t expect this… Jason Kidd didn’t expect this. They just expected me to come to the Dallas Mavericks and learn. I feel like that’s what I did. I don’t think they expected me to learn this much this quickly.” Nevertheless, Adam Silver himself stripped off the controversy ahead of the Finals Game 1.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow in what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato had to say about the marketing genius, watch this video.