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Morez Johnson Jr. and the Dallas Mavericks will meet the media ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season today at the American Airlines Center.<\/p>\n
Welcome to our live coverage of the 2026 Dallas Mavericks Media Day!<\/p>\n
Before they head to Macao to face the Houston Rockets in the NBA China Games 2026<\/a>, Cooper Flagg, Kyrie Irving, Morez Johnson Jr. and the new-look Mavericks will meet with the press to discuss their expectations and thoughts for the upcoming season.<\/p>\n Watch the stream here.<\/a><\/p>\n What we know about the 2026 Dallas Mavericks Media Day:<\/p>\n Under Team President Masai Ujiri and new coach Dusty May, the Mavericks are looking to build on a strong first season by reigning Kia Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg. SEPTEMBER 25 \/ 11:53 a.m. ET<\/p>\n Kyrie on his health<\/p>\n Irving noted there had been conversations about playing back-to-backs, but said there were no restrictions on his health going forward as he returns from a torn left ACL.<\/p>\n \u201cComing back from a traumatic injury is not the easiest thing to overcome, but no excuses. I was built for this at a very young age,\u201d said Irving. \u201cBeing able to put it in perspective\u2026 getting past the mental hurdle of the fear, the scary moments, of \u2018am I going to be back the same? Am I going to be better?’\u201d<\/p>\n He said that the injury had allowed him to rejuvenate, reflect and learn about healing, noting that the physical toll of the game had been wearing on him before he went down.<\/p>\n In this stage, Irving said he could start \u201cacting like my age, finally,\u201d as he enters his 16th NBA season at age 34. The 18 months off should be a valuable rest, he said.<\/p>\n The chance to help coach his teammates came naturally, he said, but the season away was tough.<\/p>\n \u201cThe biggest learning lesson was: what does patience look like when you really want something?\u201d Irving said. \u201cGiving my teammates grace. We have a lot of young guys, including Cooper, that have a world of talent, but need that guidance, need that leadership, and I feel I tried to fill in that void as much as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n SEPTEMBER 25 \/ 11:49 a.m. ET<\/p>\n \u2018Finding guys that complement each other\u2019<\/p>\n May said the coaching staff was working to blend the talents of the roster together.<\/p>\n He noted the importance of finding three-man units that work well together, allowing for flexibility as the team addresses the different styles and moments of NBA games.<\/p>\n Asked about Max Christie and Morez Johnson Jr., May emphasized that both bring versatility.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we have a team that\u2019s going to compete. I think we have a team that\u2019s going to be extremely connected, and when our fans leave the building, they\u2019re going to be even bigger fans, because of how relatable (they are), how they communicate with each other,\u201d said May.<\/p>\n The keys to basketball at any level include finding groups that punch above their weight, winning on the margins and riding through the stress and demands of a long season, he said.<\/p>\n SEPTEMBER 25 \/ 11:41 a.m. ET<\/p>\n Dusty May on hiring Willie Green as lead assistant<\/p>\n Green, a Michigan native, hooked up with May over a round of golf in the summer. They have known each other for a few years, and the chemistry was there.<\/p>\n May credited Green\u2019s efforts as head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans, noted he had led them to the Playoffs despite injury issues.<\/p>\n SEPTEMBER 25 \/ 11:35 a.m. ET<\/p>\n The team\u2019s identity<\/p>\n Ujiri said the team sought to bring in players that fit with Coach Dusty May, creating a dedicated, team-focused structure around athletes that can attack the basketball and pass, surrounded by shooters.<\/p>\n \u201cWe like those big, long players that are going to attack the basket, offensive rebound. We like shooters \u2014 it\u2019s where the game is going,\u201d said Ujiri. \u201cPassing becomes very important for us, and playing with each other, and a winning mentality. We want these players to have a winning mentality, and you try to get players that have that to fight in games, because it is a lot of games, and it changes every day. Teams do many different things, and we have to be creative, you have to bring players that actually suit that.\u201d<\/p>\n The trip to Macao will help build the team camaraderie and learn together, Ujiri said, helping educate and enrich their lives.<\/p>\n May said early practices had been focused on learning about the players and watching them play in small groups. He dismissed the idea that the team had too many power forwards, noting that the game has moved away from firm positions.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have size, we have length, we have good energy, so that naturally lends itself to playing in transition,\u201d said May. \u201cAnd also dominating the glass.\u201d<\/p>\n The team\u2019s rotation is still in flux, May said.<\/p>\n SEPTEMBER 25 \/ 11:32 a.m. ET<\/p>\n Patience with Lively II<\/p>\n Dereck Lively II hasn\u2019t begun running on the court, but has shown good progress recovering from surgery on his right foot.<\/p>\n The team is happy with his effort and will demonstrate patience as he makes his way back, Ujiri said, noting Lively\u2019s 7-foot-1 frame and size.<\/p>\n SEPTEMBER 25 \/ 11:29 a.m. ET<\/p>\n \u2018Generational talent\u2019<\/p>\n Cooper Flagg shows uncommon maturity for a 19-year-old, Ujiri said, working out with the team all summer and dedicating himself in the gym.<\/p>\n \u201cFor a 19-year-old to think like this guy, play like this guy, I think the sky\u2019s the limit. It\u2019s generational talent that we\u2019re blessed to have here,\u201d said Ujiri. \u201cThat\u2019s why we want to bring joy back here. We want him to grow the right way, have the right support in this organization, and play with that feeling, have nothing on his shoulders but basketball and winning\u2026 We\u2019ve seen that start to happen in the summer.\u201d<\/p>\n May credited Flagg\u2019s ability to read defenses as a young player, but said his success will likely rely on his teammates, as is common in the game.<\/p>\n SEPTEMBER 25 \/ 11:26 a.m. ET<\/p>\n Masai on Kyrie\u2019s status<\/p>\n Ujiri said Irving has \u201cbeen nothing but a leader\u201d for the team this offseason, including organizing multiple camps and practices for the squad.<\/p>\n Kyrie is \u201cright there\u201d in terms of health, but hasn\u2019t played any competitive NBA basketball yet, Ujiri said.<\/p>\n SEPTEMBER 25 \/ 11:19 a.m. ET<\/p>\n Masai shares his vision<\/p>\n Team President Masai Ujiri opened Friday\u2019s proceedings with some overarching thoughts on Mavericks basketball and the season ahead.<\/p>\n \u201cWe feel a new energy. We feel a brightness \u2014 not only with the team, not only with the people around, but just in general in basketball. We are trying to bring joy back to basketball in this city with this team. With Dusty, the coaching staff, they\u2019ve been nothing but very engaging, participating with\u2026 players being around, in the city, workouts, the camps they\u2019ve done,\u201d said Ujiri. \u201cThere\u2019s a vibe and an energy that we are all feeling, and we hope that it\u2019s going to translate to good basketball, winning, the right attitude. What we want to do is show a lot of respect for the game, how the game is played \u2014 played with joy \u2014 and win.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to win in Dallas, and we will win in Dallas,\u201d said Ujiri. \u201cThis is the beginning. Basketball is starting.\u201d<\/p>\n SEPTEMBER 25 \/ 10:51 a.m. ET<\/p>\n Check out the conversations<\/p>\n The Dallas Mavericks\u2019 YouTube account has you covered for all the insight from today\u2019s media session. Watch the stream here.<\/p>\n SEPTEMBER 25 \/ 10:30 a.m. ET<\/p>\n Dusty brings the energy<\/p>\n Get a feel for the Mavericks\u2019 new head coach with this mic\u2019d up look at some summer fun in Dallas.<\/p>\n SEPTEMBER 25 \/ 10:15 a.m. ET<\/p>\n Raising the Flagg<\/p>\n Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, entered the Association with aplomb.<\/p>\n He led the team in total points (1,473), rebounds (466), assists (316), and steals (84) in his first season, becoming the second rookie in league history to top his team in all four categories (Michael Jordan, 1984-85).<\/p>\n Along the way, he set the all-time scoring record for a teenager by dropping 51 points<\/a> against the Orlando Magic on April 3, 2026.<\/p>\n
\nBeset by injuries, the Mavericks went 26-56 in the last campaign, earning the ninth pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, which they used to take Johnson Jr., one of May\u2019s national championship-winning players at Michigan.
\nKey storylines for the upcoming season include: Flagg\u2019s development, May\u2019s welcome to the NBA, the Mavericks\u2019 transition to a size-heavy approach under Ujiri, the return of center Dereck Lively II, Irving\u2019s injury status and the roles in a shifting Dallas rotation.<\/p>\n