DALLAS — Morez Johnson Jr. said his frontcourt fit alongside Cooper Flagg could become a problem for opponents, calling the pairing potentially “dangerous” after the Dallas Mavericks drafted him No. 9 overall in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Johnson, a national champion at Michigan this past season, will join a Dallas core anchored by Flagg, the 2026 Rookie of the Year. The two have a long history that predates the draft, which Johnson said adds to his excitement about sharing a frontcourt.
Morez Johnson Jr. on His Fit Alongside Cooper Flagg
Johnson said the prospect of playing next to Flagg carries real upside for Dallas.
“I think it can get dangerous, us two on the court at the same time,” Johnson said. “I’ve been playing against Coop for a very long time. I’m very excited and happy that I’m on the same side as him. Get some wins together.”
The familiarity runs back years, with the two crossing paths well before they landed on the same NBA roster.
“Have I known him before the draft? Yeah, yeah,” Johnson said. “We’re the same age. Played AAU and stuff like that.”
Morez Johnson Jr. Proud of Michigan Teammates Drafted Behind Him
Johnson also reflected on his Michigan teammates hearing their names called after him, a goal he said the group discussed during their title run.
“It’s crazy. I’m so happy for those guys,” Johnson said. “We talked about it during the season. We got our ultimate goal of winning the national championship and we just got drafted together, all lottery picks.”
He framed the shared draft night as the next step for a tight-knit group.
“I’m proud of my brothers, and I’m very excited to see what our future has for us,” Johnson said.
Johnson averaged 13.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game as a sophomore while helping Michigan to a 37-3 record and the national title. In Dallas, he projects as a frontcourt complement to Flagg, who averaged 21.0 points per game in his debut season.
