What happened? The Dallas Mavericks have hired Dusty May as their new head coach, replacing Jason Kidd. May leaves Michigan after leading the team to a national title.
Why it matters for Dallas Mavericks May's hiring is a huge win for the new Dallas head of basketball operations, Masai Ujiri. He replaces Jason Kidd, whom Ujiri let go despite $40 million remaining on his contract.
What comes next? May jumps to one of the most coveted open jobs in the NBA coaching realm because the Mavericks have Cooper Flagg to build around. They also have Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson as veteran All-Stars on the roster.
May, 49, took over a Wolverines team that had lost a program-record 24 games the season before he took over and led an impressive turnaround. He led the team to a 64-13 record in those two seasons, with two Big Ten titles and, last season, a national championship.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Record | 64-13 |
| Big Ten titles | 2 |
| National championship | 1 |
May developed three Michigan players — Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr., and Aday Mara — who are expected to go in the lottery in this year’s NBA Draft. Prior to that, May led Florida Atlantic to the Final Four in 2023.
The jump from college to the NBA is always a risk. Look at the last coach to jump from success at Michigan to the NBA, John Beilein. Other coaches, such as Billy Donovan and Brad Stevens, have made the leap.
Ujiri reportedly looked at several college coaches, including Duke’s Jon Scheyer and Florida’s Todd Golden, and wanted to bring back former Dallas assistant coach Sean Sweeney, but Sweeney chose to take the Orlando coaching job.
The Mavericks have a quality front line with Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II. May will look to build on this foundation and lead the team to success in the NBA.
The hiring of May is a significant move for the Mavericks, and it will be interesting to see how he performs in his new role. With a talented roster and a proven coach, the Mavericks are looking to make a deep run in the playoffs.
May's experience and success in college basketball make him an attractive hire for the Mavericks. He has a proven track record of developing players and leading teams to success.
The Mavericks are looking to bounce back from a disappointing season, and the hiring of May is a step in the right direction. With a new coach and a talented roster, the Mavericks are looking to make some noise in the NBA.
May's coaching style and philosophy will be interesting to watch, and it will be exciting to see how he implements his system with the Mavericks. With a focus on player development and a strong team culture, May is looking to build a winning team in Dallas.
The future is bright for the Mavericks, and the hiring of May is a significant step towards achieving their goals. With a talented roster and a proven coach, the Mavericks are looking to make a deep run in the playoffs and bring a championship to Dallas.