DHJ Quick Take: Mavericks Draft Morez Johnson Jr. at No. 9 to Reunite With Dusty May
The Dallas Mavericks selected Michigan forward Morez Johnson Jr. ninth overall, reuniting the national champion big man with new head coach Dusty May. The pick lands well ahead of Johnson’s consensus draft range and leans on May’s familiarity with his former player.
- Who did the Mavericks draft at No. 9? Michigan forward Morez Johnson Jr., a 2026 national champion.
- Why does the pick matter? It reunites Johnson with new Mavericks coach Dusty May, who coached him at Michigan.
- What does Johnson bring? A 6-9, defense-first big who averaged 13.1 points and 7.3 rebounds and made the All-Big Ten Defensive Team.
DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks selected Michigan forward Morez Johnson Jr. with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft on Tuesday, pairing the reigning national champion with new head coach Dusty May.
Johnson transferred to Michigan in April 2025 specifically to play for May, then started all 40 games as the Wolverines went 37-3 and won the program’s first national title in 37 years. May left Ann Arbor for Dallas one day before the draft, and the Mavericks used their lottery pick on a player he developed.
Morez Johnson Jr. Reunites With Dusty May in Dallas
The selection came less than 24 hours after the Mavericks finalized May’s hiring, a move that reshaped the front of the draft for Dallas. May replaced Jason Kidd, who was fired after a 26-56 season, and joins a leadership group headed by president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri.
Johnson entered the night projected as a late-lottery to late-first-round pick, with most boards placing him between No. 20 and No. 35. Dallas moved well ahead of that consensus range, prioritizing familiarity and fit. Former Wolverines Yaxel Lendeborg and Aday Mara, both linked to the Mavericks in pre-draft reporting, remained on the board when Dallas turned in the card.
What Morez Johnson Jr. Brings to the Dallas Mavericks
Johnson averaged 13.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 25.1 minutes per game as a sophomore, shooting 62.3% from the field, 34.3% from 3, and 78.2% from the free-throw line. He added 1.1 blocks per game and earned All-Big Ten Defensive Team honors.
At 6-9 with a 7-foot-3.5 wingspan and a frame listed near 250 pounds, Johnson profiles as a physical, defense-first big man and a vertical lob threat. He converted roughly 73% of his attempts at the rim last season and flashed stretch potential, though his offense remains interior-heavy and reliant on setups from guards.
He projects as a frontcourt complement to a young Dallas core built around Cooper Flagg, the 2026 Rookie of the Year, who averaged 21.0 points per game in his debut season. The Mavericks also have Kyrie Irving and center Dereck Lively II in the rotation, with Flagg entering his second season as the centerpiece of the rebuild.
Morez Johnson Jr.’s Path From Illinois to a National Title
A Riverdale, Illinois, native, Johnson was the 2024 Illinois Mr. Basketball and a top-30 recruit before spending his freshman season at Illinois, where he averaged 7.0 points and 6.7 rebounds. He transferred to Michigan, raised his scoring and shooting across the board, and helped the Wolverines beat UConn 69-63 in the national championship game.
Johnson also won gold with the United States at the 2024 FIBA U18 AmeriCup and the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup. He turned 20 in January.
The Mavericks hold additional selections later in the draft, with Johnson set to make his professional debut under May at Summer League next month.
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