Mavericks' failed double-big strategy could return under Dusty May

To begin the 2025-26 season, the Dallas Mavericks trotted out a double-big lineup with Anthony Davis at power forward and Dereck Lively II at center. Nico Harrison's former vision to dominate the glass and protect the rim, at the cost of shooting and playmaking, was on full display.

The Mavericks' double-big lineup failed

Dallas' frontcourt was anchored by two non-shooting big men who are both over 6-foot-10. Cooper Flagg and P.J. Washington were also in this starting group. While it may have sounded promising on paper, the Mavericks' double-big dream crashed and burned quickly.

They didn't have the shooting or offensive versatility needed to survive in a talented Western Conference, and Davis, the player Harrison traded Luka Doncic to acquire less than a year prior, was traded at the deadline.

Dusty May could run another massive starting five

Now, as Dusty May begins his first season as head coach of the Mavs, he has the chance to do the same thing that fans hated Jason Kidd for the season prior. This doesn't mean that May will certainly use a double-big lineup to start the year, but there is a case for it when looking at his history.

The most logical starting five seems to be Kyrie Irving, Max Christie, Flagg, Washington, and Lively II. Irving is poised to be a game-changer for this entire unit due to his on-ball gravity and shot creation, and fit-wise, this group seems like it'll work.

But if May wants to roll the dice, he could shake up the frontcourt. He utilized huge lineups during his time at Michigan, as his most effective starting five from last season's National Championship team had 6-foot-9 Yaxel Lendeborg at small forward, 6-foot-9 Morez Johnson Jr. at power forward, and 7-foot-3 Aday Mara at center. That's a lot of size.

Now, a season later, he could do the same thing in Dallas. They certainly have the bodies for it, and a familiar face from the Wolverines is joining him on the Mavericks.

There's a case for Morez Johnson Jr. to start

He obviously doesn't have Lendeborg and Mara on his team anymore, but he does have Johnson Jr. The Mavericks selected Johnson Jr. with the ninth overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, and if May wants to prioritize his development as a rookie, he could look to start the rookie forward right away.

If Johnson Jr. were to start at power forward, either Lively II or Daniel Gafford would likely start at the five. Taking Johnson Jr.'s skill set into account, this would certainly be the definition of a double-big lineup.

May could even consider starting 7-foot stretch big man Santi Aldama alongside Johnson Jr., Gafford, or Lively II. He has multiple options to consider, and Dallas could roll out a starting unit that looks eerily similar to a group that fans doubted a year before.

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