NEW YORK — On the eve of the 2026 NBA Draft, a bombshell hit the basketball world.
Michigan coach Dusty May, who led the Wolverines to a national title in 2026, is leaving the program to become the next head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, according to multiple reports.
May, who took Florida Atlantic to a Final Four in 2023, quickly built Michigan into a contender. The Wolverines reached the Sweet 16 in his first season and then captured a national championship in his second.
But May’s tenure at Michigan has come to a halt after just two seasons.
“Man, I almost cried,” said Yaxel Lendeborg, the reigning Big Ten Player of the Year and member of the Michigan national championship team. “I know I’m not playing there next year, but I felt heartbroken, honestly. I’m happy for him. He deserves it. He’s a really, really good coach, really great guy. So I’m really happy for what he has going on. One little thing: I feel like Michigan State’s probably happy that he’s gone now. So, we’ll see how that goes. But I’m going to be a big Dusty fan no matter where he is.”
Three former Wolverines have been invited to attend the 2026 NBA Draft. Now that May is joining the Mavericks, there is a chance that he could end up coaching one of his former players again. Dallas holds the 9th pick in the draft, and Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr., or Aday Mara could still be on the board.
“The news caught me off guard,” Johnson said. “Extremely shocked. Of course, when I saw it, I was like, ‘Dang.’ Like, ‘Oh that would be crazy to play for my coach (again).’ But nothing’s guaranteed. It’s not a promise that I’ll go there. We haven’t even talked about it. I just texted him congratulations, and that’s it.”
Iowa’s Bennett Stirtz had visited the Mavericks organization during the pre-NBA Draft process.
“I visited Dallas and I knew they were interviewing him (Dusty May), so it’s not really much of a surprise,” Stirtz said. “But I’m more interested to see what Michigan’s going to do with what they’ve got because they already started practice. It’s crazy.”
The news could shift the dynamic in the Big Ten. Michigan had been a powerhouse under May, but now the program’s future is in much more uncertain waters. Michigan is reportedly expected to promote Mike Boynton Jr. to interim head coach. Boynton, who has been on Michigan’s staff the last two seasons, has head coaching experience at Oklahoma State.
The development had those around the basketball world flabbergasted.
“Shocked,” college basketball analyst John Fanta said. “Shocked and stunned. The timing of it is absolutely stunning, because you have Elliot Cadeau, you have Brandon McCoy Jr., you’ve got talent. They were going to be a top-five, top-10 team, and they still will be a top-tier team. But for him to leave in June. I thought he’d be an NBA coach in four to six years. But look, the allure of coaching Cooper Flagg. Do I blame Dusty? I don’t blame him one bit. Was I shocked by this news? 100 percent.”
Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at TTachman@usatodayco.com
This article originally appeared on Hawk Central: Dusty May departure stuns former Michigan stars ahead of NBA Draft
