The NBA coaching landscape was set to be dramatically altered by the potential departure of Steve Kerr from the Golden State Warriors. ESPN's Brian Windhorst revealed on the Hoop Collective podcast that Dusty May, the newly appointed Dallas Mavericks head coach and former Michigan Wolverines coach, was a top candidate for the Warriors' coaching position if Kerr had not re-signed. This revelation adds a fascinating layer to a hiring that sent shockwaves through both college and professional basketball.
May's impressive credentials and his connection to the Warriors' organization make this a particularly intriguing story. Yaxel Lendeborg, a player drafted by the Warriors, spoke highly of May's coaching style, describing it as 'like an NBA program'. This endorsement, combined with May's success at Michigan, where he led the team to a 37-3 record and the 2026 NCAA National Championship, made him a highly sought-after candidate.
However, May's path to the NBA was not without its twists and turns. According to Windhorst, May had agreed to a contract extension at Michigan but never signed it, keeping his options open. This is not uncommon for college coaches, who often explore NBA opportunities while still under contract. The Michigan athletic director, Warde Manuel, publicly announced May's agreement to a new deal, but no signed contract was ever made public.
The Warriors' connection to May is further emphasized by the fact that Lendeborg, a player drafted by the Warriors, played under May at Michigan and praised his coaching style. This endorsement, combined with the Warriors' need for a new coach, could have potentially led to a reunion between May and the Warriors.
In the end, Kerr chose to return to Golden State, and May ended up in Dallas, where he will coach a team built around Cooper Flagg and Morez Johnson Jr., two players who played under him at Michigan. Despite this outcome, the brief moment when the Warriors and May were closer to crossing paths than anyone knew adds an intriguing layer to the story, leaving fans and analysts alike to ponder the 'what ifs' of the NBA coaching world.
