Maor had only recently entered US college basketball, accepting an assistant coaching position at the University of Michigan in June.
By Shula Rosen
Israeli coach Mody Maor is moving to the NBA, joining new Dallas Mavericks head coach Dusty May as an assistant for the 2026-27 season after a career that has taken him through basketball leagues in Israel, New Zealand and Japan.
Dallas announced that the 40-year-old would be part of May’s coaching staff alongside Willie Green, Garrett Temple, Joe Boylan, Drew Williamson, Rob Fodor and Sam Hershberger.
Maor had only recently entered US college basketball, accepting an assistant coaching position at the University of Michigan in June.
May subsequently left Michigan to take charge of the Mavericks, with Maor making the move to Dallas as well.
Before arriving in the United States, Maor coached Nagasaki Velca in Japan.
He guided the club to its first B.League championship in his second season, defeating the Ryukyu Golden Kings in the deciding game of the finals.
His previous head-coaching experience came with the New Zealand Breakers of Australia’s NBL.
Maor joined the organization in 2019 as an assistant to Dan Shamir before being promoted to the top job in 2022. He took the Breakers to the 2023 championship series and remained with the club until 2024.
Maor’s coaching career began in Israel in 2012. He held assistant positions with Hapoel Holon, Maccabi Ashdod and Hapoel Jerusalem, working during his years in Israeli basketball with coaches including Shamir, Lior Lubin and Zvika Sherf.
Hapoel Jerusalem also gave Maor his first opportunity as a head coach. His tenure was brief, and Oded Kattash later replaced him.
The Dallas appointment now brings Maor to the NBA after successive coaching positions on three continents.
His most recent moves have come in quick succession, from winning the championship with Nagasaki Velca to joining Michigan in June and then following May to the Mavericks for the 2026-27 season.
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