Morez Johnson Jr. selected by the Dallas Mavericks with the No. 9 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft
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Winners & LosersRound 2 MockLive Picks TrackerBest Available PlayersDybantsa Goes No. 1AnalysisMorez Johnson Jr. selected by the Dallas Mavericks with the No. 9 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft
Morez Johnson Jr. possesses a terrific combination of strength and athleticism. Junfu Han / Imagn Images
By Sam Vecenie, John Hollinger and David AldridgeJune 23, 2026 Updated June 24, 2026 2:24 am EDTThe Athletic has live coverage of the 2026 NBA Draft.
The Dallas Mavericks selected Morez Johnson Jr. with the No. 9 pick Tuesday in the NBA Draft. In his one season for the national champion Michigan Wolverines, Morez averaged 13.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists. In Dallas, Johnson will reunite with Dusty May, his coach at Michigan, who was hired to lead the Mavs.
“I was insanely shocked when I saw Dusty was going to be coach of the Mavs,” Johnson told reporters at Barclays Center after being drafted. “I did not see it coming at all. And now for him to be my coach again, I’m excited. I’m excited.
“It’s insane. We just won a national championship together. I can’t wait to get there and go to work with him again and ultimately win again.”
Johnson possesses a terrific combination of strength and athleticism. He’s a powerful player who can move opponents bigger than he is and prevent them from establishing position against him. He’s not wildly explosive, but he can rise if he loads up off two feet. He’s light on his feet for a player who weighs 250 pounds and moves well laterally. He has a rare combination of mobility and strength.
Johnson could get stuck somewhere between the four and the five positions if his rim protection doesn’t play up and he doesn’t become a shooter, as he might be smaller for the five spot and not quite skilled enough for the four. He needs to keep improving his skill level and work on defending vertically without fouling. He’ll need to be elite in that regard, like the Detroit Pistons’ Isaiah Stewart, to thrive at the five. Otherwise, he could be more scheme-dependent.
John Hollinger’s instant analysis
Surprise! I’m a fan of Johnson but not quite at this level. I think his offensive limitations are a bit much to select him in the top 10 in such a strong draft. He also has some positional questions on this roster since the frontcourt is so loaded already. Shockingly, he goes ahead of his two Michigan teammates (Aday Mara and Lendeborg), both of whom most had rated higher throughout the draft cycle. Obviously, you wonder how much influence newly hired coach (and former Michigan head coach) Dusty May had on all this. Grade: C+
Sam Vecenie’s draft guide summary
I’m a big fan of the versatility Johnson brings defensively, and it’s hard for me to see how he doesn’t end up being a useful player on a winning NBA team. He allows a team to play multiple coverages on defense and can help a team have flexibility to go big or small, depending on the roster around him. If you want to kill the glass, you should play him at the four. If you want to go smaller and more mobile, he should be able to deal with most centers at the five.
Johnson could expand his value if the 3-point jumper comes along. If a team could go five-out with Johnson at center, he would have a shot to close games in playoff situations. But the question is simply what kind of value Johnson will provide on offense, and if that will allow him to be more of a starting big or a third big. Even as a third big, I like the value proposition in the middle of the first round because I am willing to bet on Johnson’s character and toughness.
A versatile frontcourt defender who can roam the perimeter and destroy the glass.
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Hollinger’s pre-draft analysis
Johnson’s consistent production in a secondary role bodes well for what he can do as a third big at the NBA level, likely toggling between power forward and center. I’m not over the moon about his shooting form, but he made 78.2 percent from the line and shows promise as somebody who can make 3s from the corner as he develops.
Defensively, Johnson’s switchability has perhaps been overrated. He’s not prime Bam Adebayo, but he’s decent. That’s sort of the whole thing with Johnson: He doesn’t stand out in one category, but he’s solid across the board and should be playable immediately. It would help if he could be a full-time center, but at 6-9 in socks with an 8-11 standing reach, he may be a little short for that role.
Nonetheless, it’s pretty easy to see him fitting in as an Isaiah Stewart-type big, and the right tail outcome offers the upside of turning into an Al Horford-type big who can start at either power forward or center.
David Aldridge’s draft confidential
Western Conference executive No. 1: Plays so hard, rebounds. I think he’ll get better offensively. He has a man’s body right now. I think he’s going to be able to guard multiple positions, have some versatility. I’ve grown to like him. He really stepped up. He was a good player at Illinois, and he clearly went up several notches.
College assistant coach No. 3 (his team played Michigan): At the end of the year, he needed to finish his shots better rolling to the rim. Whether it was the length of people in the tournament or the competition being better, I don’t know. He’s got to develop a consistent perimeter shot, and they wanted him to take it. But the one thing this kid does is, he plays extremely hard. Runs the floor, is the point on their press. Guards multiple positions. He’s not afraid to switch screen-and-rolls. Plays with youthful enthusiasm. And he’s got a very high motor. If he learns how to play, get good angles in scoring opportunities, he’s a good roller. If he could score a little more, his ceiling is very good.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
