The Dallas Mavericks have officially hired Dusty May as their new head coach, replacing Jason Kidd, who was fired after a disappointing 26-56 season. May, who led the Michigan Wolverines to a national championship in 2026, brings a 64-13 record in two seasons with the Wolverines and a 124-26 mark over his final four years in college basketball.
May’s hiring comes as the Mavericks prepare for the NBA Draft, where former coach Avery Johnson has suggested the team should trade up to select Darius Acuff Jr., whom he compares to Jalen Brunson. Acuff, a standout freshman at Arkansas, averaged 23.5 points, 6.4 assists, and 3.1 rebounds per game while shooting 48.4% from the field and 44% from three-point range.
The Mavericks’ roster is built around Cooper Flagg, the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year, who averaged 21.0 points per game last season. May’s arrival follows speculation that Jon Scheyer, Flagg’s former coach at Duke, was also a candidate for the job. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith criticized Scheyer for leaving Duke without winning a national championship, arguing that he should have stayed to complete the legacy of Mike Krzyzewski.
May’s transition from college to the NBA raises questions about his ability to adapt to the professional game. Some analysts note that college coaches have had mixed success in the NBA, while others highlight May’s proven ability to develop talent and win at the highest level.