Jason Burgos
A new NBA rumor is going to create some worries among fans of the Duke and Michigan men’s basketball programs.
The Blue Devils are royalty in the sport because of the legendary run of coaching icon Mike Krzyzewski. The program has been able to maintain that high standard despite Coach K’s retirement four years ago because of the impressive job done by his successor, Jon Scheyer.
Michigan is often considered a top school in college football instead of basketball. However, in just two years, former Florida Atlantic coach Dusty May has made them a basketball school first now after leading the Wolverines to a National Championship in March.
Duke and Michigan are among the elites in the sport, and it’s because of their coaches. However, that type of success brings interest from other places, including the NBA. According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, “there have been exploratory conversations” recently between the Dallas Mavericks and the camps of Scheyer and May.
Duke & Michigan fans should be worried about Mavericks pursuit of their coaches
New Mavericks President Masai Ujiri fired head coach Jason Kidd last month and is reportedly casting a very wide net to find a replacement, including coaches from the college ranks.
Fischer admits both Scheyer and May are deeply entrenched in their jobs at Duke and Michigan, respectively. Yet, there are just 30 NBA jobs, and the Mavericks are a notable brand in the game. Furthermore, taking the job means being handed a potential superstar in Cooper Flagg to work with. A player Scheyer recruited and led to the Final Four a year ago. Teaming up with him again in the pros would not be a bad idea.
May achieved the ultimate goal in March. Leaving Michigan after just two seasons would be stunning. But the man who was coaching Florida Atlantic not that long ago surely could not have imagined he would be drawing NBA interest in 2026.
This is a rare opportunity he would be foolish not to seriously consider. Especially when factoring in the chance to work with Flagg and one of the top executives in the sport.
