Dusty May shocked the world by leaving Michigan for the Dallas Mavericks on Monday. Just one day later, May has shocked everyone again with the Mavs first pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. It was a wonder how much sway May would have with the Mavericks' first pick, and it must have been a lot as Dallas went with Morez Johnson Jr. with their first pick.
That's right, a Michigan man is heading to join May in Dallas, and Wolverines fans probably feel like they have seen a story like this unfold before. Drafting Johnson gives May a familiar feel with three big men in the frontcourt. May will now be coaching Johnson, Cooper Flagg, and Dereck Lively II at the NBA level.
So, for any Michigan fans confused still, Flagg is basically Yaxel Lendeborg, Johnson is still Johnson, and Lively is Aday Mara from Michigan's National Championship team. It is a formula that worked for May at Michigan, and now he is taking it with him to the NBA.
The real question is: will it work? That question will have to be answered once the next NBA season begins, the first season under May.
Dusty May found quick success at Michigan, but can he do the same in the NBA?
College basketball is not the same as the NBA, and May could learn that fast in his first season with the Mavericks. While things could go poorly, they could also go very well because May has shown he knows how to find success wherever he goes.
May found solid success at FAU with limited resources. Once he made it to Ann Arbor, May quickly found success with a Michigan program that was the worst in the Big Ten the season before. Then, in his second season with the Wolverines, he led his team to a National Championship win.
Now, May will get the opportunity to coach some very talented players, one being former first -round pick Cooper Flagg. With a very similar play style to Lendeborg, May should be very comfortable working with Flagg right off the bat. Plus, having a familiar face with Johnson joining the team now has to help.
The expectations for May in year one with the Mavericks should be tempered, but it is okay for fans to dream. Johnson might have struggled in the NCAA Tournament this season, but he has proven he can ball out day in and day out. Then, when you add Lively int here standing at 7-foot-1, it is a scary trio that May is happy to have assembled.
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