Who are Dereck Lively II's parents?

Dereck Lively II is the nineteen-year-old center who played for Duke University in the 2022-23 season. After completing just his freshman year of college, Dereck decided to enter the 2023 NBA Draft. The 7-footer was born in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on February 12, 2004. Basketball seems to be a part of his genes as his mother was also a basketball player back in her college days.

At Duke, Lively II’s game was more focused on the defensive end of the floor than the offensive. But his defensive presence coupled with his abilities paved the way for the team's success as they went on to win the ACC Tournament Championship. The tall center also has an enormous wingspan of 7 feet 7 inches which is a nightmare for opponents looking to take the ball to the rim. Dereck made a significant impact on the games using both his height and wingspan to average around 2.3 blocks per game last season. This makes him an efficient rim protector. Even when he is defending further out, putting his hand up in the face of the opponent is usually enough to cause wayward shots.

Lively II is also an excellent pick-and-roll defender as he backtracks well to get to the rim. His ball-tracking ability makes him a threat as he can easily switch from one opponent to the other. He has shown decent performance while defending guards on the switch. As for his offense, he gets into good positions for easy dunks and lob catches. Most of the time his teammates can just throw the ball in the air and he will catch it.

Dereck Lively II is still not the completely finished product though. Apart from his tremendous dunks, his offense needs a lot more work. Even near the rim, his layups are not effective and his close-range shots lack consistency. Getting past the bigger defenders has been tricky for him on most occasions. Plus, his left hand rarely comes into play as he is very hesitant to shoot with it. As a defensive big, Dereck may see limited game time in the NBA, so it will be prudent for him to improve his offensive skills.

Let us now find out who are Dereck Lively II's parents and how his life has shaped up the way it has.

Dereck Lively II's Parents

Dereck Lively II was born in Philadelphia in 2004 to Dereck Lively Sr. and Kathy Drysdale. Life has been very hard for Dereck as he has suffered from tragic events throughout his childhood involving both of his parents. In spite of this, Dereck continued his journey and focused on his life in school and on the basketball court to get to where he is today.

Dereck Lively II's Father

Dereck Lively II’s father, Dereck Lively was known to be a chef. Unfortunately, though, his father struggled and fought with drug addiction for many years. Ultimately in 2012 when Dereck was just seven years old, his father passed away due to cocaine and heroin overdose.

In an interview with sports reporter Pat Welter, Dereck mentioned that even though his father’s path was different than his, he can still change the family name with the success he garners. He also added that he misses the bond he shared with his father, especially his father’s laughs, jokes, and goofiness. His family always tells him that he himself acts a lot like his father. He recalls that whatever little memories he has with his father, the most important thing to stand out was that they both shared a good relationship.

Dereck Lively II's Mother

If the year 2012 was hard for Dereck then the year 2014 was probably harder as his mother was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma - a type of cancer affecting the lymphatic system. She battled the cancer for 8 long years till August 2022 when she was in remission. It was a very tough phase of life for her and Dereck as well. His mother was already trying her best to protect her son from his father’s premature passing. As Dereck himself was still a kid, he wasn’t able to figure out the situation. He recalls that at times his mother was throwing up in bed or on certain days she just couldn’t go out.

However, Kathy’s earlier life during her college days was really good. In fact, she was also a basketball player who played at Penn State. In her four years at Penn State, she scored 1,295 points, grabbed 717 boards, and added 89 blocks. She graduated in 1992 with a degree in general arts and sciences.

Post her graduation, she spent a good number of years from 1993 to 2006 with the Philadelphia 76ers franchise where she managed game operations and game presentations among other activities. In 2011, she returned to Penn State where she works as a marketing manager for the women’s volleyball, wrestling, and softball teams.

Dereck Lively II's Parents Nationality

Both DereckLively II's parents are American by nationality having been born in the United States.

Dereck Lively II's Siblings

Dereck is the only child born to Dereck Lively and Kathy Drysdale. He does not have any half-siblings or step-siblings.