Morez Johnson Jr.'s biggest Summer League flaw shouldn't concern the Mavericks

When looking at Morez Johnson Jr.'s first two NBA Summer League games for the Dallas Mavericks, one stat jumps off the page: 14 total fouls. With him playing so well, it's easy to say that his fouls have been his biggest Summer League flaw so far.

He had seven personal fouls in each of Dallas' first two games, and that obviously can't continue going into the regular season, since players foul out after six fouls in an NBA game.

He would've fouled out in both games if this were the real NBA and not Summer League.

Morez Johnson Jr.'s fouls aren't a real concern

Picking up this many fouls in Summer League is an early growing pain that Johnson Jr. will have to work through as he gets adjusted to the NBA, but it's not a real problem by any means. The Mavericks are empowering Johnson Jr. to play as hard as he can, and since he's allowed to get 10 fouls per game, he might as well use them. Summer League is the perfect environment for him to learn from his mistakes and test what he can get away with.

He has been fearless when protecting the rim, and he attempts to block everything around the bucket. Even if a player is trying to dunk on him, he always rises up with them and attempts to make a play on the ball. This has resulted in some foul calls, but the defensive anchor potential is there.

Johnson Jr. has five steals and six blocks through two games, and his performance has shown that Dallas should believe in him as a situational small-ball center. His natural position is likely power forward, but he can provide minutes at center when needed as well.

He's a brick wall on defense, and while his physicality has led to some foul calls, it's better that he's too physical rather than not physical enough.

Physicality isn't something you can really teach, and Johnson Jr. has it. He doesn't back down from anyone, and Mavericks fans should be excited about this — regardless of the abnormally high foul counts in Summer League.

Some big men are hesitant to contest shots around the basket after getting called for a foul, but not Johnson Jr. He doesn't change the way he plays just because of one call. Johnson Jr. just continues to play hard defense, and in a league where not every player embraces the defensive end, this will quickly earn him respect with his peers, teammates, coaches, and even some referees.

The silver lining behind Johnson Jr.'s 14 fouls

If Johnson Jr. has already played his final game of the Summer League, the foul conversation will naturally come up, but it could actually be a good thing.

He was one of the most physical players on the court at all times, and he needed to lay the foundation to continue to do this at the NBA level. Johnson Jr. will need to be physical when playing defense as a rookie, and if Summer League has proven anything, it's that toughness, energy, and physicality won't be an issue on either end of the floor.

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