Dave Portnoy may not be angry at Dusty May for taking an NBA job, but that does not make the Michigan blow any softer.
The Barstool founder has long been one of the Wolverines’ loudest public supporters.
Losing a national-title coach to the Dallas Mavericks was always going to sting.
Dave Portnoy’s Dusty May reaction captures his frustration
Portnoy, a Michigan alum, gave his immediate reaction after May agreed to leave Ann Arbor for the Mavericks.
“Can’t ever get mad when a college coach gets a shot at the pros. I was gonna name a horse Dusty Gray, but I’ll no longer be doing that. Best of luck Dusty, brought us a championship. Sucks for Michigan.”
Portnoy did not pretend May owed Michigan anything. He also made clear that the timing hurt, especially after what May accomplished in just two seasons.
May went 64-13 at Michigan after arriving from Florida Atlantic in 2024. In his first year, he led the Wolverines to a 27-10 record, a Big Ten Tournament title and a Sweet 16 appearance. The next season, he guided them to a 37-3 mark, a Big Ten regular-season crown and Michigan’s first national championship since 1989.
That is why the move felt so abrupt. May did not leave behind a struggling program. He left one that was thriving, with a fan base that believed he could be the face of the program for years to come.
For Portnoy, that explains the horse line. May still gets gratitude. The name tribute is off.
Dusty May’s NBA leap represents rare college gamble
From Dallas’ perspective, the hire is easy to understand.
May is the first college head coach since John Beilein in 2019 to jump straight into an NBA head-coaching job, and he will hope for a smoother transition than the last Michigan-to-pro move.
Beilein lasted just 54 games with the Cleveland Cavaliers, going 14-40 before resigning. His college approach did not translate well to the NBA, a comparison May will hear plenty about early in his tenure.
But the situations are different. May steps into a franchise led by Masai Ujiri and built around Cooper Flagg, the 2025 No. 1 pick who just won Rookie of the Year.
May’s Michigan teams played with pace, moved the ball, defended and developed pros, qualities the Mavericks hope will fit around Flagg.
Portnoy may not like the timing, but he can see the logic. Michigan lost a champion. Dallas just hired one.
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