In a somewhat surprising turn of events, the Dallas Mavericks hired Michigan head coach Dusty May to be their next coach. May was one of the hottest names in the college basketball scene after winning the national championship, and he was even tied to the Orlando Magic job earlier in the offseason.
Of course, college basketball and the NBA are almost different sports, so there are valid reasons to doubt May and his ability to lead this team to success. History isn't on his side, as most coaches haven't done well after jumping to the pros.
As shown by BetMGM, only Billy Donovan (469-413) and Brad Stevens (354-282) have had winning records in the NBA as former college basketball coaches in the past 30 years. Then again, the reigning Big Ten Coach of the Year has something most of his predecessors (except for Donovan and John Calipari) didn't: a national championship.
Dusty May brings some championship pedigree to the Dallas Mavericks
Masai Ujiri knows the Mavericks needed a change of direction. Jason Kidd is a well-respected figure among NBA players, but he's always been a polarizing player as a head coach. His decision to put the ball in Cooper Flagg's hands as a point forward drew mixed takes, and he seemingly broke Giannis Antetokounmpo's jump shot.
Trading Luka Doncic inevitably changed this team's timeline, and Ujiri realized that. As much as the fans would love to compete for an NBA championship right away, that's not realistic with the current roster.
As someone used to working with younger guys and players who are far from finished products, May can give this team the player development it will need to get back on track sooner rather than later. May has seen an instant rise since taking Florida Atlantic to the Final Four in 2023. The dominant season with Michigan ending in a national championship only solidified May as a basketball genius.
Outside of Flagg and whoever they take with the No. 9 pick, no one should be untouchable in Dallas, and May will have a blank canvas to build and mold a team that can win sustainably for years to come, even if there are some bumps on the road at first.
Of course, that may not fit Kyrie Irving's timeline, and the former NBA champion could be the biggest name on his way out of the team, but sometimes, you have to take a step back to take a couple of leaps forward.
History hasn't been kind to college basketball coaches leaving campus to endure the wear and tear of professional basketball. Still, after watching May beat the odds with a group of castaways and lead the Wolverines to the mountaintop last season, he deserves the benefit of the doubt.
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