‘Very Pleased With Rez’: Dusty May Says Dallas Mavericks Rookie Morez Johnson Jr. Is Building Toward Coming Off Minutes Restriction
DALLAS — Morez Johnson Jr. is still playing on a minutes restriction in his first NBA season, and Mavericks coach Dusty May said Friday that the Dallas Mavericks rookie is in a buildup to keep strengthening without being rushed.
Johnson played in two Summer League games in July before missing the last three. He was limited through the first three days of training camp, and he was listed with right shin splints before the Oct. 24 home opener against the San Antonio Spurs, when Dallas announced the minutes restriction. The Mavericks drafted him ninth overall in June after he played for May at Michigan.
Johnson went an extended stretch without practices or shootarounds, May said before Friday’s game against the Houston Rockets. He also said Dallas’ first five games have started to run together because they came so quickly.
“Very happy with Rez,” May said. “Obviously, when you don’t practice and you don’t do shootarounds for an extended period of time, you’re not going to have great game rhythm. But there have been a couple games, and it all kind of runs together now as they start coming at you so quickly. But there’s been several games in the first half he just was frustrated with his play, and even those games he made such … I don’t know if it’s called momentum-changing plays, but he made big plays down the stretch of all of our wins.”
“Maybe it’s a deflection on one end, the putback at Indiana, the putback the other night in Miami. He’s made some really timely plays, and when you look at the amount of minutes and his production, he’s fine,” May continued.
“But Rez, he’s a guy that’s going to impact winning every single possession, especially once he gets off the minutes restriction. He gets in his normal game shape,” May added. “He’s just in the process of a buildup now to continue to strengthen and not throw him in the fire too quickly. But very pleased with Rez.”
Morez Johnson Jr.’s Minutes So Far
In his debut at Houston on Oct. 21, he had 6 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 fouls in 13:50, and two nights later at Indiana, he scored 8 points with 6 rebounds in 16:49. Dallas outscored the Indiana Pacers by 21 points while he was on the floor in the 121-105 win.
Dallas set the minutes restriction before the Oct. 24 game against San Antonio, and two days later, Johnson scored 6 points in the 113-109 win at Miami. Against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, Johnson finished with 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists on 4-of-6 shooting in 17 minutes, and the Mavericks were plus-7 in his minutes during the 120-96 win.
P.J. Washington On Playing With Johnson
In his Summer League debut, Johnson scored 27 points on 12-of-17 shooting against Golden State. He followed it with 10 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, and 4 blocks against the Los Angeles Lakers before sitting out the rest of the event.
Last week, P.J. Washington said Johnson can switch one through five and talks well for a rookie. Washington also said he expects an up-and-down first season from him.
“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. A lot of games, and I’m super excited we got him on our team, for sure.”
Dallas is still without Dereck Lively II (right foot surgery) and lists Santi Aldama (right knee surgery) as doubtful. Houston ruled out Alperen Şengün with low back soreness. The Mavericks host the Sacramento Kings on Monday to close their homestand.
