The Dallas Mavericks open their 2026-27 runway at American Airlines Center on Friday, with Cooper Flagg, Kyrie Irving, Morez Johnson Jr. and the club’s reshaped roster scheduled to face reporters before leaving for Macao and the NBA China Games 2026 against the Houston Rockets.
Dallas arrives at media day after a 26-56 injury-ravaged season, but the conversation around the building begins with a new front-office and coaching setup. Masai Ujiri is leading basketball operations as team president, while Dusty May takes over on the sideline for his first NBA season.
The Mavericks are also coming off an extraordinary rookie year from Flagg, the reigning Kia Rookie of the Year and the No. 1 selection in the 2025 NBA Draft. His development remains the central item on a long Dallas checklist entering camp.
Flagg’s rookie production set the baseline
Flagg carried Dallas across the board during his first NBA season, finishing as the team leader in points, rebounds, assists and steals. He totaled 1,473 points, 466 rebounds, 316 assists and 84 steals.
That made him only the second rookie to lead his team in each of those four categories, joining Michael Jordan, who did it in 1984-85.
Flagg also established the league scoring mark for a teenager when he poured in 51 points against the Orlando Magic on April 3, 2026. Earlier in the season, before his 19th birthday, he posted 42 points to surpass LeBron James’ previous high for an 18-year-old.
He claimed Rookie of the Year at 19 years and 112 days old, six days later than James was when he won the honor. Flagg nonetheless became the second-youngest player to receive the award.
May, Johnson and a bigger Dallas look
May’s arrival brings a familiar face with it. Dallas used the ninth overall choice in the 2026 NBA Draft on Johnson, who played for May on Michigan’s national championship team.
Johnson enters a frontcourt group that will be watched closely as the Mavericks move toward a bigger, size-oriented roster construction under Ujiri. The health and return of center Dereck Lively II will be a major part of how that plan takes shape.
Irving’s injury status is another leading camp question, particularly with Dallas trying to sort through a rotation altered by injuries, coaching turnover and young players seeking larger minutes. The Mavericks will need clarity at both guard spots and in their big-man combinations as May builds his first regular-season lineup.
China Games come next
Media day serves as the Mavericks’ final major public stop before the trip to Macao, where Dallas will meet the Rockets in the NBA China Games 2026. The preseason event gives May an early live look at how Flagg, Johnson and the returning core fit in the new system before the 2026-27 schedule begins.
