The Dallas Mavericks reported that center Dereck Lively II has a stress fracture in his right ankle and will undergo reevaluation in a month.

This injury, which was disclosed on Wednesday, adds to the challenges for this talented young athlete, who has faced multiple injuries in both of his seasons. Lively has missed the last three games due to what was initially reported as a right ankle sprain and has been sidelined for a total of 11 games this season due to various injuries.

The 20-year-old former Duke star’s rookie season in 2023-24 saw him limited to just 55 games due to injuries, although he helped the Mavs reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 2011.

Lively’s extended absence is compounded by fellow star Luka Dončić, who is expected to be out for a few more weeks due to a left calf strain, having already missed 13 games.

Currently, the Dallas team, the reigning Western Conference champions, is in seventh place in the West as they headed into a game against Minnesota on Wednesday night.

When fit, Lively has proven to be dynamic, averaging 8.9 points and 7.2 rebounds while shooting an impressive 73% from the field across his 87 games played over two seasons.

He has often split starting responsibilities with Daniel Gafford, who is contributing 12.1 points and 6.2 rebounds in 41 games this season.