Dallas Mavericks rookie forward Morez Johnson Jr. has been limited through the first three days of training camp, but head coach Dusty May says he is "close" to working his way back. The ninth overall pick's specific ailment remains undisclosed, but his progress is a positive sign for a Mavericks team looking to improve on a 26-56 record from last season. The team's most recent outing was a high-scoring 149-128 win over the Chicago Bulls on April 13, 2026, though their form over the last five games stands at 1W-4L.
Coach Dusty May confirmed the rookie's limited participation on Monday. "He's had a little limited time in practice, but he's working his way back," May said. "He's close."Johnson is not alone in dealing with restrictions."He can really affect both ends of the floor, whether it's defense, offense," Marshall said. "I love the pass, so him being a lob threat, something else that intrigues me."Johnson last played in a game during July's Las Vegas Summer League."There's a couple times in practice when he'll walk up and say, hey, is this term now what we call that?" May explained. This familiarity should speed up Johnson's learning curve within the new system once he's fully cleared.
Dallas opened camp with 19 players, creating competition for frontcourt minutes. The center group includes Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively II, Dwight Powell, and Moussa Cissé. Powell, the team's longest-tenured player, recently re-signed on a training camp contract. Cissé's salary for the 2026-27 season is not fully guaranteed until October 1, adding another layer of roster intrigue. The health and availability of Aldama, Lively, and Johnson will significantly shape May's early-season rotations.
Fans can track the team's preparation and upcoming schedule on our schedule page. The immediate focus remains on getting Johnson and the other limited big men back to full participation. His return to full practice will be a significant step forward as the Mavericks aim to build momentum after a difficult previous campaign. The 149-128 victory over Chicago showed their offensive capability, and adding Johnson's two-way game could provide a needed boost.
