Michigan Wolverines Defy 'Super Team' Label with Modest NIL Spending

Coach Dusty May has built a championship-caliber team through relationships and player development, not just money.

Mar. 2, 2026 at 2:55pm

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Despite being dubbed a 'super team' due to their on-court success, the Michigan Wolverines basketball team is actually far from the highest-paid roster in the Big Ten. Coach Dusty May has built a winning program through recruiting relationships and player development, not just outspending rivals on NIL deals. Many of Michigan's top players turned down larger offers to play for the Wolverines, citing the program's style of play, development opportunities, and chance to compete for championships.

Why it matters

The Michigan story challenges the narrative that NIL has led to the creation of 'super teams' that simply outspend the competition. May's approach shows it's still possible to build a championship-level program through smart recruiting, coaching, and player development, even without the highest NIL budgets.

The details

While Michigan has had success in the transfer portal and with NIL deals, sources indicate their overall roster spending is closer to the middle of the pack in the Big Ten, not at the top. Players like Yaxel Lendeborg may be among the highest paid, but others like Morez Johnson turned down 'massive offers' to play for the Wolverines, citing the program's culture and chance to win. Coach May has emphasized building a team-first mentality, and there have been no issues with 'envy' in the locker room despite the pay disparities.

  • Michigan won the Big Ten Tournament title in Dusty May's first season as head coach.
  • In year two, the Wolverines clinched the outright Big Ten regular season championship with over a week left in the season.

The players

Dusty May

The head coach of the Michigan Wolverines basketball team, who has quickly built a championship-caliber program through smart recruiting, player development, and a team-first culture.

Yaxel Lendeborg

A star player for the Michigan Wolverines who is among the highest paid in the Big Ten, though the program's overall roster spending is not at the top of the conference.

Morez Johnson

A Michigan forward who turned down "massive offers" from other schools to play for the Wolverines, citing the program's culture and chance to win championships.

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What they’re saying

“I would these guys, most players now have financial managers, and if their financial managers knew the sacrifices that they made, they wouldn't be very happy with their clients.”

— Dusty May, Head Coach, Michigan Wolverines

“There hasn't been one moment all year where we felt like there was any envy in our locker room. When you have the discrepancy of salary … I mean, everybody knows what Yaxel makes and everybody knows that no one else is in the same ballpark. That could be something that hurts your locker room, but our guys they've just been great, and I think that's a big part of our success that they, they genuinely care about each other and playing the game with each other the right way.”

— Dusty May, Head Coach, Michigan Wolverines

What’s next

Michigan will look to continue their success and compete for a national championship in the upcoming NCAA tournament.

The takeaway

The Michigan Wolverines' success shows that it's still possible to build a championship-caliber program through smart recruiting, player development, and team-first culture, rather than simply outspending rivals on NIL deals. This challenges the narrative that NIL has led to the rise of unbeatable 'super teams' in college basketball.