Mavs Draft Johnson No. 9, Reunite Him with May
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- Dallas Mavericks selected Michigan forward Morez Johnson Jr. with the No. 9 pick, reuniting him with newly hired head coach Dusty May (announced less than six hours earlier) — Johnson said he was "insanely shocked" about May going to Dallas and called the reunion "insane"
- Morez Johnson Jr., a 6-foot-9 forward who started 40 games and helped lead Michigan to the national championship, averaged 13.1 points and 7.3 rebounds as a sophomore after transferring from Illinois; he said teaming with reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg "can get dangerous" on the court
- Yaxel Lendeborg went No. 11 to Golden State — a consensus All-American and Big Ten Player of the Year (15.1 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 3.2 APG) whose mother was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year; Lendeborg said on ESPN, "That kid got here because of her," crediting her with pushing his dream
- Aday Mara, a 7-foot-3 Spain native who transferred from UCLA, was picked No. 12 by Oklahoma City after averaging 12.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.6 blocks to win Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year
- Michigan became just the third reigning national champion since the lottery began in 1985 to produce three lottery picks, per ESPN Research, with Lendeborg and Mara following Johnson into the top 12
- Dallas closed the first round by selecting Arizona forward Koa Peat with the No. 30 pick
Why it matters: The Mavericks turned a new coaching hire into an instant roster connection, drafting May's championship forward six hours after announcing him as head coach. Michigan's three lottery picks make the Wolverines just the third reigning champion since 1985 to land that many top-14 selections, underscoring how one title run can stock an entire draft.
