The Big D Breakdown: Johnson's Return Window Hits The…

By the Mavericks Nightly Desk · Thursday, October 1

Morez Johnson Jr.'s lower-leg listing stayed unresolved on October 1, with his projected return lined up for the same date as Dallas's preseason opener. Hoops Rumors grouped his name into a same-day notes report alongside Dusty May, Cooper Flagg, Zaccharie Risacher and Sergio de Larrea.

Mavericks Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Johnson's Date Matters

Morez Johnson Jr.'s lower-leg issue remained listed as unresolved on October 1, with the same Day-To-Day tag it carried before. His projected return is October 9, the exact date Dallas opens its preseason slate against Houston at American Airlines Center. Hoops Rumors folded his name into a notes report that same day alongside Dusty May, Cooper Flagg, Zaccharie Risacher and Sergio de Larrea, with no detail beyond the headline itself.

Four Preseason Dates Set

Dallas opens with Houston twice, October 9 at home and October 11 on the road, both on NBA TV, then hosts New Orleans on October 14 and Atlanta on October 16. The regular-season opener is set for October 21, also at Houston, giving Dusty May three home preseason dates and one road trip to settle rotations before games count.

A Lineup Worth Tracking

Last season's most efficient five-man group, P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford, Bismack Biyombo-era center depth aside, Max Christie, Cooper Flagg and a fifth starter, finished at +2.2 net rating across 73 minutes, built on a 116.8 offensive mark. That unit never got consistent run. Whether May reassembles something close to it once Johnson and the rest of camp's injured clear is the open question heading into October.

When do the Mavericks play their preseason opener?

Dallas hosts Houston on October 9, 2026, on NBA TV, the first of two preseason meetings with the Rockets.

Is Morez Johnson Jr. expected to play in the preseason opener?

His estimated return is October 9, 2026, the same date as the opener, though he remained listed without clearance as of October 1.

By the Mavericks Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.