Morez Johnson Jr. didn’t arrive in Dallas with the kind of opening stretch that turns heads right away, but the Mavericks are starting to see the reasons they made the bet. Through the early part of the 2026-27 season, the rookie has averaged 7.3 points and 3.1 rebounds per game while shooting 60 percent from the field.
On paper, that doesn’t scream top-10 pick. The ninth overall selection came with some risk, especially with most mock drafts slotting him outside the top 10.
Still, the longer Johnson is on the floor, the more his value shows up in ways that don’t always jump off the stat sheet. His blend of defensive versatility and physicality makes sense next to Cooper Flagg, and Monday night against the Sacramento Kings was a clean example of why Dallas likes what it has.
Johnson posted the best game of his career in that one, finishing with 13 points, two rebounds and one steal in just 17 minutes. He made his presence felt in a second-quarter stretch that showed the full package: a left-handed finish at the rim, an offensive rebound that led to a sharp pass to P.J.
Washington for an open three, then a putback and a drawn foul on the next trip down. That sequence captured the kind of impact he can have when everything is clicking.
Both of his rebounds came on the offensive glass, and that’s where his edge really stands out. He boxes out well, attacks the boards with force and makes rebounding a priority on both ends.
That’s why there’s reason for Mavericks fans to buy in. Johnson makes winning plays, doesn’t try to do too much and can help anchor the paint at both ends of the floor.
He’s comfortable in a supporting role, which matters on a young roster built around Flagg. His connectivity, finishing and defense all point to a player who can fit alongside the former Duke Blue Devil for a long time.
Dallas didn’t need another star to pair with Flagg. It needed someone who would embrace his role, defend hard and play with purpose.
Johnson checks those boxes, and he’s getting better with each game. The early fouling issues that slowed him down at the start of the season have started to ease, and he looks more at home handling the ball while cutting down on turnovers. Against the Kings, he didn’t commit a single turnover.
He may not be on a path to 20 points a night right away, but the Mavericks’ decision to take him is beginning to look smarter by the game.
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Daniel Gafford Is Forcing A Mavericks Rethink In The Paint
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The front office has already made one clear call by keeping him around, and the timing matters with the frontcourt still dealing with injuries. Gaffords defense and reliability have given Dallas a steadier answer in the paint than it might have expected a few months ago, and his play has reopened the larger question of how the Mavericks want to build around their bigs once the roster is healthier. [Read more 🡒]