Morez Johnson Jr. Told No One He Wanted the Mavericks. Then They Drafted Him.

Morez Johnson Jr. didn’t say a word about it during the entire draft process. Not to the media, not in his workouts, not even in private conversations that might have leaked. But when the Dallas Mavericks called his name with the ninth pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, he let the secret out.

“I’ve wanted to play for Dallas forever, man. I haven’t said it at all during this draft process, but it’s insane,” Johnson said on the draft floor, according to a clip posted by All Things Mavs.

The full-circle part? He wasn’t just talking about the franchise.

The Dusty May Connection

Johnson reunites with his college coach, Dusty May, who was hired by the Mavericks just one day before the draft. May coached Johnson at Michigan, where the Wolverines won the 2026 national championship and Johnson served as the team’s defensive backbone. The 6-foot-9 forward averaged 13.1 points and 7.3 rebounds per game last season and earned All-Big Ten Defensive Team honors. May called him his enforcer.

“I’m going to Dallas with my coach,” Johnson said, summing up the night in a way that felt almost too neat for real life.

What Johnson Brings to Dallas

The Mavericks are building around reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg, and they see Johnson as a natural fit next to him. Johnson’s game isn’t flashy. It’s physical, relentless, built on rebounding and versatile defense. He’s the kind of player who doesn’t show up in highlight reels but shows up in winning plays. May’s system at Michigan demanded that from him, and now he’ll run a version of it in the NBA.

The transition should be smoother than most rookies get. Johnson already knows the defensive schemes, the standards, the way May expects practices to run. He knows exactly what it looks like when his coach is pleased and when he’s about to get chewed out. That doesn’t guarantee success, but it removes a lot of the guesswork.

A Dream That Stayed Quiet

Johnson’s admission that he kept his preference quiet is interesting. In a draft cycle where players often signal their preferred destinations through leaks or agent chatter, he apparently went the other direction. Maybe he didn’t want to jinx it. Maybe he figured talking about it wouldn’t help. Either way, the moment landed harder because he hadn’t said it out loud before.

The Mavericks weren’t the only team that could have taken him. But they’re the one that did, and Johnson’s reaction made clear this wasn’t just another pick. It was the one he wanted, with the coach he trusted, on a team that already has a young star to build around.

That’s a lot to ask of one draft night. But for Johnson, it all clicked.