The Dallas Mavericks practice before the NBA China Games at The Venetian Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, in Macao.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
MACAO, China — The sound of basketballs thumping all around him was no different than the thousands of basketball practices he’s had in his 20-year-old life, but little else about Wednesday’s scene and circumstances was normal for Mavericks rookie Morez Johnson Jr.
Let’s start with the obvious: The Mavericks are 8,100 miles from home, in Macao, a special administrative region of China.
And specifically on this morning, the Mavericks were in The Venetian Arena, after a 90-minute practice, as they prepare for preseason games here on Friday and Sunday against Houston.
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Quite a way for the No. 9 overall pick Johnson to make his NBA debut.
Dallas Mavericks forward Morez Johnson Jr. poses during media day on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas.
Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News
“I was just looking forward to playing basketball, but there’s so much behind-the-scenes stuff that I’m enjoying, stuff they don’t talk about on TV, but I’m enjoying it here with my teammates,” Johnson said.
The Mavericks departed Dallas on Sunday afternoon and, factoring in the 13-hour time difference, landed here in Macao on Monday afternoon.
Before the Mavericks drafted him in June, Johnson said, “I didn’t know anything about us going to China. I’m just grateful to be here. It’s a new part of the world.”
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Mavericks rookie Morez Johnson Jr. on his time thus far in Macao and anout making his NBA preseason debut on Friday. https://t.co/LduJAlduEr
— Brad Townsend (@townbrad) October 7, 2026
So far in Macao, the Mavericks have taken a team “postcard” photo on the Cotai Strip, which is Macau’s version of the Las Vegas Strip, lined with resort casinos. Four of them are owned by the Las Vegas Sands Corporation, whose CEO is Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont.
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg shoots the ball during a practice before the NBA China Games at The Venetian Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, in Macao.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Dallas Mavericks forward Zaccharie Risacher shoots during a practice before the NBA China Games at The Venetian Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, in Macao.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (center) shoots during a practice before the NBA China Games at The Venetian Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, in Macao.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Dallas Mavericks forward/center Dwight Powell passes the ball during a practice before the NBA China Games at The Venetian Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, in Macao.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Dallas Mavericks forward Caleb Martin shoots a three-pointer during a practice before the NBA China Games at The Venetian Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, in Macao.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg shoots during a practice before the NBA China Games at The Venetian Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, in Macao.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
The Dallas Mavericks practice before the NBA China Games at The Venetian Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, in Macao.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II talks to teammates during a practice before the NBA China Games at The Venetian Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, in Macao.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Dallas Mavericks guard Tarik Biberovic shoots during a practice before the NBA China Games at The Venetian Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, in Macao.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Dallas Mavericks forward Caleb Martin (center) shoots the ball as Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (left) and Dallas Mavericks forward/center Dwight Powell (7) talk during a practice before the NBA China Games at The Venetian Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, in Macao.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Dallas Mavericks head coach Dusty May watches a practice before the NBA China Games at The Venetian Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, in Macao.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving sits for an interview during a practice before the NBA China Games at The Venetian Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, in Macao.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Dallas Mavericks forward/center Dwight Powell holds an inflatable globe as he films a video during a practice before the NBA China Games at The Venetian Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, in Macao.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
A basketball passes through the net with a logo for the NBA China games during a practice at The Venetian Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, in Macao.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Masai Ujiri, Dallas Mavericks president of basketball operations, holds forward Cooper Flagg’s finger as he waits for a pass during a practice before the NBA China Games at The Venetian Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, in Macao.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg looks to Masai Ujiri, Dallas Mavericks president of basketball operations, after making a three-pointer during a practice before the NBA China Games at The Venetian Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, in Macao.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg reacts to Masai Ujiri, Dallas Mavericks president of basketball operations, after making a three-pointer during a practice before the NBA China Games at The Venetian Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, in Macao.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Dallas Mavericks head coach Dusty May smiles as he talks with staff during a practice before the NBA China Games at The Venetian Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, in Macao.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
On Tuesday evening here, Dumont hosted a party for the entire Mavericks travel contingent. After Wednesday’s practice, the players were given the afternoon off, with many of them planning to take the hour-long high-speed ferry ride to Hong Kong.
“We obviously know why we’re here, and our guys are taking care of business off the court, as well,” first-year Mavericks coach Dusty May said. “But trying to get acclimated to the time zones, get ourselves back to where we’re feeling well as the game nears.”
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May said the Tuesday night dinner was a highlight, and that he’s looking forward to seeing more of Macao — and taking care of a rare team-bonding opportunity.
“It’s still more what the guys are doing together around the hotel and the meeting rooms,” he said. “Going for walks, things like that. It’s been very productive as far as team-building and team-bonding.”
One doesn’t have to spend much time in Macao to realize the Mavericks organization has big plans and hopes surrounding reigning NBA Rookie of The Year Cooper Flagg, nine-time NBA All-Star Kyrie Irving — and Johnson.
More than a few electronic billboards around Macao feature that troika of Mavericks. The future Big Three, perhaps?
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“It’s hard to miss,” Johnson said with a smile. “It’s an honor to be up there with Kyrie, Coop, some of the Rockets players. I’m grateful. I see my picture on the walls of the malls in China. It’s kind of crazy. It’s surreal. I’m grateful for all of it.”
Mavericks coach Dusty May, after today’s practice here in Macao, about mixing business and pleasure on this trip. https://t.co/I7J3Y5COYu
— Brad Townsend (@townbrad) October 7, 2026