Mudi Maor Joins Dallas Mavericks as Assistant Coach Under Dusty May

Israeli basketball coach Mudi Maor has been appointed assistant coach of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, joining the staff of newly hired head coach Dusty May. May, who left the University of Michigan to take the Mavericks job, had previously brought Maor onto his college coaching team. Maor, 40, was named Michigan's assistant coach in May but spent only a short time there before moving to the NBA. He replaces Justin Goiner, who left Michigan for a head coaching role at Oregon State, and will now continue working alongside May at Dallas. Drew Williamson, another Michigan assistant and recruiting coordinator, will also join May's Mavericks staff.

Maor's coaching career began in 2012 with assistant roles at Israeli teams Hapoel Holon, Maccabi Ashdod, and Hapoel Jerusalem, where he briefly served as head coach. In 2019, he moved to New Zealand to join the New Zealand Breakers' coaching staff and was promoted to head coach in 2022. He then coached Nagasaki Velca in Japan, leading them to a historic championship win in 2022. His success in Asia paved the way for his move to Michigan and now the NBA.

Dusty May, 49, had a successful college coaching career, leading Michigan to an NCAA championship and compiling a 64-13 record over two seasons. He previously guided Florida Atlantic to two NCAA tournament appearances, including a surprise Final Four run in 2023. May replaces Jason Kidd as Dallas head coach after Kidd was fired following a 56-26 season. May is the first college coach to move directly to the NBA since John Beilein in 2019.

At Dallas, May will build the team around rookie Cooper Flagg, who averaged 21 points per game in his first NBA season. Maor’s rapid rise from coaching in Israel, New Zealand, and Japan to the NBA highlights his growing international reputation. The Mavericks are owned by Miriam Adelson, whose family has been in the spotlight due to player Kyrie Irving’s controversial political statements supporting Palestinians during the Gaza conflict and sharing antisemitic content in the past.