‘They’re Not Gonna Push Us Around’: Dusty May Explains Why Dallas Mavericks Drafted Morez Johnson Jr. Ninth Overall
DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks took Morez Johnson Jr. ninth overall in June for the same reason Mavericks coach Dusty May wanted him at Michigan, May said Sunday: no opponent was going to win the physical battle in the paint with him on the floor. May spoke before Dallas hosted the Brooklyn Nets at American Airlines Center.
Johnson transferred from Illinois to Michigan for the 2025-26 season, May’s second with the program. In May’s first season in Ann Arbor, there were nights in the Big Ten when the Wolverines got pushed around physically, May said, and that stopped being the concern once Johnson arrived.
“Yeah, that was more of a mindset where some nights you go into the Big Ten, and in the year before, there were some nights we got manhandled, we got physically abused by the other team,” May said. “And with Rez, there was never a game that we felt like the other team was going to have more physical mentality or physical approach in the paint, and it was more or less of, if they’re gonna beat us tonight, they’re gonna beat us playing basketball. They’re not gonna overwhelm us on the glass. They’re not gonna push us around.”
“And so that’s what Rez is,” May continued. “And as you guys can see, he’s a rookie in the league, and I don’t think he’s been manhandled yet. And like I said, now he’s starting to run the floor better. He’s starting to find connection in the offense. And it was more just along those lines that we’re not gonna be outworked tonight, especially in the paint, because of Rez.”
What Dusty May Saw From Morez Johnson Jr. At Michigan
Michigan went 37-3 in 2025-26 and won its first NCAA national championship since 1989. Johnson started all 40 games and averaged 13.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.1 blocks in 25.1 minutes while shooting 62.3% from the field, earning Second-Team All-Big Ten and Big Ten All-Defensive Team honors. In the first round of the NCAA Tournament on March 19, he had 21 points and 10 rebounds on 8-of-8 shooting against Howard.
May was named the 11th head coach in Mavericks history in June. Through nine NBA games, all off the bench, Johnson is averaging 8.0 points and 4.7 rebounds in 16.8 minutes. He grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds, 10 of them offensive, in Friday’s 112-100 win over the Utah Jazz.
Physicality Across The Mavericks Roster, Including Zaccharie Risacher
May said Johnson’s physicality is not yet matched across the roster. He pointed to Zaccharie Risacher, listed at 6-foot-9 and 203 pounds, as a player who plays bigger than his frame, and said a couple of other players could bring more grit on the defensive end.
“I think, no. I don’t think everyone’s playing with the physicality of Rez, but I think even, like, Zacch being a skinny guy, Zacch’s much more physical than, like, he’s playing with great physicality for his size,” May explained. “But I do think that physicality is contagious. We have a couple other guys that could play with much more grit and physicality on the defensive end, especially, and hopefully it becomes even more contagious.”
“But yeah, that’s definitely, when we drafted him, that was definitely a part of the equation,” May noted. “The thought being that he’s not going to be played off the floor in any type of game. Meaning there’s not a game where he can’t guard perimeter guys. He can function in any type of game. And so now that he’s getting more reps, more minutes, I think he’ll continue to improve.”
Risacher, the first overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, is averaging 7.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 1.3 blocks in 26.1 minutes. He is one of seven players in the league with at least 10 steals and 10 blocks this season, and his 5 steals in the Oct. 21 opener at Houston were the second-most by a Maverick in a season opener.
Dallas hosts the Indiana Pacers on Monday at 7 p.m. CT.
