DALLAS — Morez Johnson Jr. described his selection by the Dallas Mavericks at No. 9 in the 2026 NBA Draft as the realization of a goal he had carried since childhood, calling the move to Dallas “insane” moments after his name was called Tuesday.
Johnson, a national champion at Michigan this past season, framed the night around the destination as much as the moment, pointing to a longstanding wish to land with the Mavericks. His father, Morez Johnson Sr., stood alongside him and reflected on the years of work that led there.
Morez Johnson Jr. Reacts to Landing in Dallas
Johnson said the selection carried deep personal meaning, tracing the moment back to a goal he set as a kid.
“This moment means a lot to me,” Johnson said. “I’ve been thinking about this since I was a little kid. Dallas has always been a place I wanted to go, and it’s insane that I’m actually going to Dallas.”
He also embraced the overlap between his college program and his new team, with head coach Dusty May making the same jump from Ann Arbor to Dallas one day before the draft.
“Man, it’s insane,” Johnson said. “The Michigan Mavericks now. But I’m very grateful for this opportunity, and I’m excited to do it with my coach. We won together this past season. I’m looking forward to winning with him and the Mavericks when I get there.”
Asked how much May factored into the pick, Johnson noted his coach had been on the job only a day, then turned the focus forward. “It’s crazy, man,” Johnson said. “We’ve got work to do. Back to work.”
Morez Johnson Sr. Reflects on His Son’s Path
Johnson’s father described the night as the payoff for years of effort.
“Man, it’s amazing,” Johnson Sr. said. “It’s amazing. He worked hard for it, though. Really hard.”
He recalled the message he gave his son in the sixth grade, when Johnson was wrestling with doubt.
“Just work hard, keep working, outwork everybody, and you will make it,” Johnson Sr. said. “I told him to ignore all the outside noise. You’re going to catch up to them later.”
Johnson transferred to Michigan in April 2025 to play for May, helped the Wolverines win the program’s first national title in 37 years, and now joins a young Dallas core built around 2026 Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg. He is set to make his professional debut at Summer League next month.
