‘Almost Unlimited Play’: Dusty May Updates Morez Johnson Jr.’s Minutes Restriction As Dallas Mavericks Face San Antonio Spurs
SAN ANTONIO — Rookie Morez Johnson Jr. is moving closer to almost unlimited minutes for the Dallas Mavericks, Mavericks coach Dusty May said before Wednesday night’s game against the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center.
Dallas put Johnson on a minutes restriction before the Oct. 24 game against San Antonio, his third as a pro, after he was listed with right shin splints. He has played between 12 and 18 minutes in each of his seven games.
May credited the Mavericks’ medical staff for how the rookie has progressed.
“No, actually, we’re moving closer to almost unlimited play. So he’s progressing,” May said. “The medical staff [has done] a great job. There’s just been a natural progression and he’s followed it closely and he’s doing well.”
Morez Johnson Jr. Finds His Spots Off The Bench
Johnson is coming off a career-high 13 points against the Sacramento Kings on Monday, when he went 5-of-5 from the field in 17 minutes of a 115-100 loss. Both of his rebounds that night came on the offensive glass, and he picked off a pass with 7:23 left.
Through seven games, all off the bench, the ninth overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft is averaging 7.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 15.7 minutes. He is shooting 60% from the field, going 21-of-35, and 10 of his 22 rebounds have been offensive.
Monday was Johnson’s second double-figure scoring game in his last three. He had not reached 10 points in any of his first four.
In the 113-109 win at the Miami Heat on Oct. 26, Johnson scored 6 points on 3-of-4 shooting and grabbed an offensive rebound in four minutes of fourth-quarter work. He had 8 points and 6 rebounds in 16:49 at the Indiana Pacers on Oct. 23, and Dallas outscored Indiana by 21 points with him on the floor. In the 120-96 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Oct. 28, he finished with 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists.
Daniel Gafford And P.J. Washington On The Rookie
Johnson played two seasons of college basketball, one at Illinois and one at Michigan under May. He had 12 points and 10 rebounds in Michigan’s 69-63 win over UConn in the national championship game on April 6, and Dallas drafted him in June.
After Monday’s loss, Daniel Gafford pointed to Johnson’s work in the short roll and on both backboards.
“I feel like he’s developing into the player he wants to be, 100%. He works every day,” Gafford said. “He’s obviously really paying attention to details on what he can do to be successful in this league. Short roll, being a guy, a threat on the offensive glass, defensive glass, and being a threat defensively in general. So I’m proud of him. The sky’s the limit for him. He’s going to have a good career in this league.”
P.J. Washington, who calls the rookie “Rez,” said earlier this season that Johnson can switch one through five.
“He’s gonna be really big for us this season. I love playing with Rez. He can rebound, he can defend, he can switch one to five. He talks very well for a rookie, and he’s a sponge,” Washington said. “He’s trying to learn each and every day. And he’s doing his part. Obviously, he’s gonna have an up-and-down year as a rookie.”
Dereck Lively II (right foot surgery) and Santi Aldama (right knee surgery) are both out Wednesday. Johnson had 6 points and 4 turnovers in 12 minutes in the first meeting with San Antonio, a 122-106 Spurs win.
Tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m. CT on ESPN. Dallas hosts the Utah Jazz on Friday in NBA Cup group play.
