It has been a busy offseason, to say the least, for Dusty May’s Michigan Wolverines . From adding guys in the transfer portal to pro decisions, the Wolverines have made waves to get better. They went out and got three guys in the transfer portal who are going to contribute in a big way for years to come. But this week, things got even better as Nimari Burnett officially announced his return to Ann Arbor for one more go.
Burnett has been a staple for the program in Ann Arbor for the last two years. Like many players around the country, the graduate student will return for a sixth season. Let’s dive into the impact of Burnett’s return.
BREAKING: Nimari Burnett is returning to Michigan next season, per his IG.
Dusty May gets one of his core players back. Huge.#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/PW9r7bOfzk
— Blue By 90 (@bluebyninety) April 21, 2025
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Analyzing the Impact of Nimari Burnett’s Return to Michigan
Nimari is a guy who came to Michigan during the final season of the Juwan Howard era. Which gave him plenty of trials and tribulations as he was forced more into a background role. Fast forward to the 2024-25 season, and Burnett was one of the leaders for the Wolverines as they completed a turnaround of the program almost overnight.
Nimari turned himself into one of the Wolverines’ most important players down the stretch as they finished top three in the Big Ten, and were able to win the Big Ten Tournament. Who can forget his unforgettable buzzer-beater to beat Rutgers late in the season?
May Was Exactly What He Needed
When coach May arrived, he was exactly the kind of coach Burnett needed to hit the next level of his game. He showed it as he produced his best season of his career with a 47.6 percent from the field while shooting 40 percent from beyond the arc. Burnett also chipped in 9.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists. Dusty was able to get the best out of Nimari, and he helped get Michigan back to the Sweet 16 with his experience and leadership. That was exactly why Coach May was hoping to have him back for 2025-26.
One More Year
May’s hopes have paid off, as Burnett made the news official via his social media. As Nimari posted a highlight video with a message that said, “I’m back.”
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Burnett’s experience and shot-making will be key for Michigan. He also provides some needed guard play. Having Burnett back for one more season, along with a special portal class of Yaxel Lendeborg (if he stays in college), Aday Mara , Morez Johnson Jr , and Elliot Cadeau . Notably, 247Sports ranks Michigan as the best transfer class in the country. The roster rebuild from losing Danny Wolf and Vladislav Goldin isn’t looking as bad now. The 2025-26 Michigan Wolverines could easily be right back near the top or even compete to win the Big Ten. Wolverine fans have to be jumping with joy right now.
Photo credit: © Brett Davis-Imagn Images
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