Dallas – Dusty May stood on the practice court of the American Airlines Center, a broad smile across his face as he looked out at his family, his new players, and the Dallas Mavericks brass. For a man who once dreamed only of coaching high school basketball in Indiana, the moment felt surreal. “This is all too big of a dream,” he said Monday during his introductory news conference. “I did start preparing for this years ago, going to watch and trying to figure out if I could do this well. But as far as dreaming about coaching in the NBA, I never dreamed of coaching in the NBA, of coaching college, of coaching anywhere other than just being a coach in high school in my state.”
A Journey from Indiana to the NBA
May, 49, grew up in the heart of Indiana basketball country, where the game was a religion and coaching high school was the pinnacle. He played at Indiana University under Bob Knight, then began his coaching career as a student assistant and later as a video coordinator. He climbed the ranks at Eastern Michigan, UAB, and Louisiana Tech before landing his first head coaching job at Florida Atlantic in 2018. There, he turned the Owls into a mid-major powerhouse, leading them to the 2023 Final Four – the program’s first. That run put him on the national map, and after the 2023-24 season, he accepted the Michigan job, taking over a storied program that had not won a national title since 1989. In his second season with the Wolverines, May delivered: Michigan defeated Duke in the national championship game, ending a 37-year drought. That victory also altered his career trajectory. “When you win a national championship, opportunities come,” he said. “I had always wondered if I could coach at the NBA level. I started studying NBA offenses, watching film, talking to people in the league. I wanted to be prepared if the call ever came.”
The Mavericks’ Tumultuous Year
The call came from the Dallas Mavericks, a franchise in flux. Jason Kidd was fired two weeks after Masai Ujiri was hired as president of basketball operations. Ujiri, the architect of Toronto’s 2019 championship, was brought in to stabilize a team that had spiraled since the shocking February 2025 trade of Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. That deal, engineered by former general manager Nico Harrison, sent shockwaves through the league and left Dallas in disarray. Harrison was fired in November 2025 after a sluggish start, and the Mavericks finished with a 26-56 record, their worst since the season before drafting Doncic in 2018. Ujiri quickly hired Mike Schmitz as general manager and set about rebuilding the front office and roster. “We want to bring joy back to basketball here,” Ujiri said at May’s introduction. “It is a goal and I know we’re going to do it and I know the beginning of this joy and this goal starts here with this guy that we welcome as our basketball coach.”
A Roster Built Around Youth and Experience
May inherits a roster with an intriguing mix. The centerpiece is Cooper Flagg, the 2026 Rookie of the Year, who was taken with the No. 1 overall pick in 2025. Flagg averaged 18.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 5.2 assists last season, often playing point guard under Kidd. “He’s as talented as any young player I’ve ever seen,” May said. “We’re going to find the best way to use him, whether that’s as a primary ballhandler or as a wing. He’s versatile enough to do both.” The Mavericks also have Kyrie Irving, who missed all of last season after tearing his ACL in March 2025, and Klay Thompson, a four-time NBA champion. Thompson’s outside shooting and championship experience could be invaluable. “Having guys like Kyrie and Klay in the locker room is huge,” May added. “They know what it takes to win at the highest level. My job is to put them in positions to succeed.” The frontcourt features 2023 first-round pick Dereck Lively II, who has struggled with injuries, along with Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington Jr. The Mavericks also drafted Michigan’s Morez Johnson Jr. with the No. 9 pick, and Yaxel Lendeborg and Aday Mara followed in the lottery. “I’m on Rez’s team now, so he’s definitely my favorite,” May joked, referring to Lendeborg. “But those guys have genuine chemistry. They were each other’s biggest fans at Michigan, and I want to bring that culture here.”
Preparing for the Jump
May is the latest in a long line of college coaches to make the leap to the NBA, with mixed results. Seven years ago, another Michigan coach, John Beilein, took over the Cleveland Cavaliers but lasted only one season. May believes today’s game is better suited for the transition. “The college game and the NBA game are closer than ever,” he said. “With NIL, the transfer portal, and the way offenses are structured, the differences are smaller. But there are still challenges – the 24-second shot clock, the defensive three seconds, the longer season. You can prepare, but you’re never fully ready. It’s like being a parent.” May’s preparation included attending NBA summer leagues, studying new Mavericks general manager Mike Schmitz’s analytics, and talking to current NBA coaches. He also leaned on his experiences at Florida Atlantic and Michigan, where he dealt with roster turnover and player development. “I’ve been preparing for this for years,” May said. “I’ve watched every NBA game I could. I’ve studied the trends. I know the X’s and O’s, but more importantly, I know how to build relationships. That’s the same at any level.”
Bringing Joy Back to Dallas
The Mavericks’ immediate future hinges on health and development. Irving’s return from ACL surgery is a major X-factor. If he can return to near-All-Star form, the backcourt of Irving and Flagg could be dynamic up and down the floor. Thompson’s shooting will space the floor for driving lanes. Lively’s availability will anchor the defense. “We have some really unique pieces,” May said. “Masai said, we’re here to win. When you have the nucleus we have, you can figure out a way to overachieve until you become the best team.” The Mavericks also exercised a 2026-27 option on point guard Ryan Nembhard, who went undrafted in 2025 but showed promise as a rookie. Nembhard will compete with Jaden Hardy and others for minutes. May’s challenge will be to blend the veterans with the young core while implementing a modern system that stresses pace, space, and player empowerment. He emphasized that his door is always open. “I want players to feel comfortable coming to me,” he said. “That’s how you build trust. That’s how you win.”
Looking Ahead
May’s first season will be a test of his adaptability. The Western Conference is loaded with heavyweights like the Thunder, Nuggets, and Timberwolves, but the Mavericks have cap flexibility and draft capital to make moves. Ujiri and Schmitz have already shown a willingness to reshape the roster. “We’re not done building,” Ujiri said. “But we’ve found our coach. That’s the first and most important piece.” For May, the journey from a high school gym in Indiana to the biggest stage in basketball is one he never could have scripted. “I just wanted to coach the game I love,” he said. “Now I’m here, with a great organization, great players, and a city that’s hungry for a winner. I can’t wait to get started.”
Source:NBA.com News