Dereck Lively has been experiencing a tumultuous emotional period over the past month, despite the joy of reaching the NBA Finals.
he has been grieving the loss of his mother, who passed away at the age of 53 after a battle with a severe illness. This personal tragedy has left a significant void in his life. Nevertheless, Lively continued to play and achieved remarkable success in his rookie season. Reflecting on his journey, he expressed deep emotion:
“I wish my mother were here. This means everything to me. I’ve put my soul and body on the line, and they still can’t stop me. I’m not going anywhere, and that’s for a long time.”