The 'I Almost Cried' Quote From Yaxel Lendeborg That Spills Everything About Dusty May's Sudden Exit

Alright, hold onto your hats, Seattle sports fam, because college basketball just got absolutely detonated. Seriously. On the freakin' eve of the 2026 NBA Draft, a report dropped that Michigan's national championship coach, Dusty May, is bailing on the Wolverines. He's reportedly headed to the Dallas Mavericks to take over as head coach, and the entire hoops world is still reeling. Talk about a gut punch right when nobody expected it!

Michigan's Reigning Champ Coach Ditches, Players Are Gutted

Look, May was on a rocket ship at Michigan. He took Florida Atlantic to a Final Four in 2023, then in his first year with the Wolverines, he got them to the Sweet 16. Then, in his second season, he brought home a national championship trophy! Two seasons, that's it, and now he's gone. His players? They are feeling it, big time. Yaxel Lendeborg, the Big Ten Player of the Year and a key part of that championship squad, didn't mince words. He said, "Man, I almost cried." Can you believe that? He added, "I know I'm not playing there next year, but I felt heartbroken, honestly." Lendeborg was quick to say he's happy for May, calling him a "really, really good coach, really great guy," and he'll be a "big Dusty fan no matter where he is." But he also threw a little shade, thinking "Michigan State's probably happy that he's gone now." Ouch. Another Wolverine, Morez Johnson Jr., was just as floored, saying, "The news caught me off guard. Extremely shocked. Of course, when I saw it, I was

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like, 'Dang.' Like, 'Oh that would be crazy to play for my coach again.'" But he knows it's "not a promise."

Draft Day Drama and a Big Ten Shake-Up

The timing of this is just wild. Dallas holds the 9th pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, and guess what? Lendeborg, Johnson Jr., and Aday Mara, all former Wolverines, have been invited. Imagine if May ends up coaching one of his old guys in the pros! Iowa's Bennett Stirtz, who visited Dallas during the pre-draft process, said he "knew they were interviewing him," so for him, it wasn't "much of a surprise." But even he thinks it's "crazy" Michigan had already started practice. College basketball analyst John Fanta was "shocked and stunned. The timing of it is absolutely stunning." Michigan still has talent like Elliot Cadeau and Brandon McCoy Jr., and Fanta believes they "still will be a top-tier team." But he thought May would be an NBA coach in "four to six years," not two! He gets why May took the "allure of coaching Cooper Flagg," but still, "100 percent" shocked. This move is gonna shift the entire dynamic in the Big Ten. Michigan's future is definitely in "uncertain waters." They're reportedly promoting Mike Boynton Jr., who's been on staff for two seasons and coached at Oklahoma State, to interim head coach. So, what's next for the Wolverines and the NBA Draft? Everyone's buzzing to see if any of those former Michigan players land in Dallas with their old coach. And for the Big Ten? You know every team is looking at Michigan wondering what's gonna happen now. This story is far from over, folks, and we'll be watching every twist!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.