[Old General] The successor to the insider! The soul of Dallas’ boxing champion!

The timeline goes back to two years ago, when Nowitzki was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame, adding another legend to Dallas.

On that day, fans all over the world were recalling his Golden Rooster independence and the championship that belonged to him in 2011. But if you remember that team, you won't forget another name: Tyson Chandler.

That year, Chandler, who was 2.16 meters tall, stabilized the entire Dallas penalty area like a wall. As a former star insider, he is willing to do the dirty work, grab rebounds, protect the frame, and communicate with the team's defense, so that King Nuo can attack without worries.

More than ten years later, Dallas once again stood at a fork in the road of destiny.

After having Doncic and Irving in their hands, the team gradually began to get back on track, but in the end they still lacked the last step from the championship, and the team's defense was also crumbling. Then Doncic became Davis, and the team got the No. 1 pick Flagg. They still seemed to be among the champions.

But apart from these stars, there is a figure that is equally noteworthy:

Derrick Lively, the 12th pick in 2023, is a young center who is very similar to Chandler.

After Chandler retired, he returned to the Dallas training facility, not for nostalgia, but to guide the junior. Compared to missing too much last time, Dallas did not waste any time this time. They immediately invited the boxing champion to be their mentor and taught Lively personally from the first day.

"I have never received guidance from a real big man, and now, the person next to me is a championship center who has been active on the court. He knows all the details, all the secrets of steps, and can teach me even the small moves on the corner."

During training breaks, as long as Chandler is present, Lively follows him like a shadow to learn:

When should he fill in? When to assist in defense? When should the shot be blocked and when should it be collected?

These are things that cannot be seen on the data sheet, but they are the basis for the survival of inside players in the league.

For Lively, this is an opportunity:

"This is like a rich asset. I can play, train, and ask him for advice at any time. I can learn things every day that others take years to understand. I just want to make good use of this opportunity every day."

As a senior, Chandler seems to have recovered long-lost memories in this inheritance.

"I hope he can be better than I was at the time. I see he has many advantages and like his learning attitude. He comes to training every day with full energy and never slacks off. He will become a great teammate and the kind of center that can change the game."

Looking at the past ten years or so, there has been no shortage of young insiders in the league who are called "the next Chandler", but in the end they were not able to truly support the expectations of the fans until Lively appeared.

When Chandler saw Lively play for the first time, he only gave one comment:

"I seemed to see my younger self again."

"Looking at him, I recalled what I looked like when I first entered the league, that kind of desperate defense, The momentum of protecting his teammates with all his strength. I know that this kid has the opportunity to reach higher."

Judging from the team's performance, although he is still under his rookie contract, Lively's performance is already worthy of shining in the eyes of Dallas fans. He showed his potential as a top rim protector early on, with excellent offensive and defensive reactions, amazing high jump, and his never-ending youthful energy.

In the new season, he will once again face new challenges and become the best partner next to top insiders like Davis.

Back before the draft, Lively was originally only a late first-round pick in the eyes of some media. But for Dallas, they don't think so. The team used the 12th pick acquired from the Thunder and gave up the 10th pick, Carson Wallace and Bertans, just to get this young center.

Some reporters even reported later that even if the deal failed, they would directly select Lively with the No. 10 pick.

Borrowing from an interview with the team's senior management:

"He is one of the most active communicative rookies I have ever seen. He is always shouting, adjusting, and filling in. Such a player makes you think, this is what the defense should look like."

And Lively himself is also very clear about his position on the team. :

"I want to be an excellent screener, clearing space for Irving and Davis."

"As soon as my teammates get the ball, I will set up a screen and follow the alley-oop, so that the opponent has to shrink the defense. That way, outside shooters have the opportunity to fire."

Simple, direct, and efficient, this is Chandler's style of play.

But Lively didn't stop there, he wanted to go further. He's developing an outside shot that Chandler has never had in his career.

At present, Dallas' frontcourt rotation is slightly crowded in the new season, but this is not a bad thing for Lively. Compared to others, Lively is young enough, has enough potential, and has a low enough learning attitude. In such a team, it is entirely possible that he will be the last person left.

Perhaps one day in the future, when he truly dominates the penalty area, fans will think of that familiar figure again:

The man who won championships with defense, the boxing champion Chandler who made Nowitzki more like a king.

This time, Chandler will smile on the sidelines and watch his successor,

the future of Dallas, grow step by step.