Morez Johnson Jr. is giving Mavericks reason to believe he's their center of the future

After just two preseason games, Dallas Mavericks rookie big man Morez Johnson Jr. has shown that he has the tools to be the Mavs' center of the future. MJJ started his Mavericks career with four points, two rebounds, one assist, and one steal against the Houston Rockets last Friday, and followed this up with a strong performance last night against the Atlanta Hawks in his home Mavs debut.

Morez Johnson Jr. is showing what makes him special

Johnson Jr. finished with four points, seven rebounds, and two assists in just 14 minutes. Not the flashiest stat line, but his intentionality as a rebounder was clear.

He was extremely active on the glass, and his rebounding already looks like the best part of his game. His hustle, combined with his strength, feel, physicality, and length, makes it hard for opponents to go through him when trying to crash the glass, and he typically comes down with the ball if it's in his vicinity. Rez is also good at tipping the ball out to a teammate if he can't pull the rebound himself, which helps create second opportunities on offense.

Scoring-wise, he had a nice finish inside and a short jumper, but it's the little things that make his game so intriguing. His impact on the game went beyond the stat sheet in Dallas' preseason finale.

Rez is always in the right places on offense, battles for positioning on both ends after every shot, and keeps the ball moving on offense. Dallas' guards can feel comfortable passing him the ball anywhere inside the arc, as he will make the right play, remain confident, and keep the offense running smoothly.

Why Johnson Jr.'s future looks bright

Johnson Jr. is the type of connector that you need alongside your star players, and he and Cooper Flagg are going to be a powerful duo moving forward. Both of their games are built upon defense, and each player impacts winning at a high level.

After spending a top-10 pick on him over the summer, the Mavericks should feel confident about him being their starting center of the future. Even though he played center at Michigan under Dusty May, when looking at Dallas' roster construction, he makes the most sense as a center.

Johnson Jr. looked like the Mavericks' most productive center on Friday night, outplaying Daniel Gafford, and he could even be the team's starter on opening night next week. Dereck Lively II is still out indefinitely as he recovers from foot surgery that he had last December, and Johnson Jr. is a great option for now and the future.

He can hold down the fort until Lively II returns, and once he does, the Mavs can explore lineups that include Rez at power forward and D-Live at center.

Dallas getting beaten by 24 points at home in the final preseason game wasn't the most promising sign ahead of the 2026-27 season, but Johnson Jr.'s performance was something to be excited about. He has the intangibles to be a great center in this league, and he's showing early signs that he can be Dallas' long-term center.

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