Mavericks front office looks genius after their top pick puts on a show against Warriors

Many people thought the Dallas Mavericks made a big mistake on draft night when they used their number nine pick on Michigan Wolverines forward Morez Johnson Jr., and critics instantly called it a massive reach.

But now it makes sense on paper from every angle. Dallas' new head coach, Dusty May, just coached Johnson to a college national championship.

Still, draft experts weren't thrilled that much due to his modest 13.1 points and 7.3 rebounds in college. They warned that he wouldn't help the Mavericks with their biggest problem -- outside shooting.

However, he silenced everyone's mouth during his pro debut. Johnson literally dominated against Golden State in Las Vegas, putting up 27 points on a highly efficient 12-of-17 shooting. He filled the rest of the stat sheet too, adding eight rebounds, three assists, three steals, and two blocks. Even though Dallas lost, he was clearly the best player on the floor.

The breakout game backed up exactly what the coaching staff believed during the pre-draft process. Kevin O'Connor shared a favorite line from head coach Dusty May's staff, saying, "We have 'Rez, and they don't." Draft analyst Rich Stayman agreed, telling Dallas fans they have every reason to be excited about the rookie.

He fits this team perfectly, and it goes way beyond one good game. Johnson is a high-energy player who scores off simple hustle, running the floor, crashing the glass, and cleaning up misses. 

Since he doesn't need the ball in his hands to be effective, he can play right alongside Cooper Flagg without getting in his way. New Team President Masai Ujiri took a gamble on draft night, but it already looks like the right call.

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