NBA fans, particularly Golden State Warriors followers, will need time to adjust to a world without Klay Thompson.
Thompson is pleased about his future in the NBA now that he has joined the Dallas Mavericks, and he expressed this to everyone on Tuesday when he was officially presented as a Mav.
Klay Thomspon sent a message to Dallas Mavericks supporters.
In a video broadcast by the Mavericks on their official X (previously Twitter) account, Thompson looked and sounded delighted to be embarking on a new chapter in his NBA career, sending a message to Dallas fans.
“Hi, Mavericks supporters. This is Klay Thompson from the headquarters. I’m so excited to be here. I received my new threads, numbered 31. Just like the Jet. We received a chip with this same number. That’s what I aim to do. It begins today. I’m getting to work and about to put some images up. Let’s go; we have grandeur on the horizon.
After winning four NBA titles and five NBA All-Star selections with the Warriors, Thompson is now ready to help a new club reach the same team goals he helped Golden State achieve.
The Mavericks have the weapons to advance far in the playoffs, and Thompson might be the one to help Dallas climb over the hump after coming short of winning its first NBA title since 2011. The Mavericks lost to the Boston Finals in the 2024 NBA Finals in part because of their lack of perimeter shooting, which Thompson can undoubtedly offer Dallas with.
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Klay Thompson believes he can fill the vacuum for the Dallas Mavericks following his departure from the Golden State Warriors.
Klay Thompson recalled telling Luka Doncic that he saw enormous promise in him after Golden State upset the Mavericks in the Western Conference finals two years ago.
Thompson, who left the franchise he had been with for 13 years to join Doncic and Kyrie Irving in Texas, is eager to enjoy successes alongside the 25-year-old star rather than console him after losses.
“He handled loss graciously,” Thompson remarked of Doncic during his debut at Tuesday’s Mavericks press conference. “I like someone who lives in the moment and competes till the end. Luka embodies that spirit. I feel we can bring out the best in each other.”
In 2022, Thompson and Stephen Curry led the Warriors to their fourth title.
Two years later, Thompson had a difficult season that ended with a poor performance – zero points on 0-for-10 shooting in a loss to Sacramento in the play-in tournament.
Thompson feared that this would be the end of his stint with the organisation that chose him 11th overall in 2011. His father, Mychal Thompson, a former Los Angeles Lakers player turned commentator, was unhappy by his decision to chose Doncic and Irving over LeBron James and Anthony Davis in free agency.
The Mavericks’ loss to Boston in the NBA Finals had a huge impact on his decision.
“As I watched as a basketball fan, I thought, ‘I could really help this squad. “They’re right there,” Thompson said. “It would just take minimal alterations to drive them over the edge. We’re on the verge of breaking through, which is what drew me to this place.”
Thompson joined the Mavericks in a six-team sign-and-trade deal, signing a $50 million, three-year contract at the age of 34 after being named an All-Star five times.
In addition, Dallas signed free agent forward Naji Marshall to a three-year, $27 million contract and acquired Quentin Grimes from Detroit in exchange for Tim Hardaway Jr. and three second-round picks.
Marshall and Grimes were already members of the squad when they learnt Thompson had joined.
“I told everyone, ‘I’m going to get a championship ring,'” said Grimes, a Houston native who is recognised for his shooting ability. “As one of the best shooters ever, I’ll be learning from him every day. We have a terrific bunch of men, and with Klay joining us, the possibilities are endless.”
Thompson has encountered hurdles in recent years, including knee and Achilles injuries that kept him out for two and a half seasons. Last season, he had his lowest scoring average in 11 years (17.9 points per game) and shot 38.7% from three-point range, matching a career low.
Thompson had not come off the bench on a consistent basis since his rookie year, despite starting only 14 times in 77 games last season. This is why Stephen Curry, Thompson’s longtime colleague and “Splash Brother,” voiced his hope that Thompson can rediscover his love for the game.
“There were rough days last year when the joy wasn’t as strong,” Thompson said. “It’s nice to leave things behind and start over with a new bunch of guys in a new place.” It’s quite exciting, and I look forward to this opportunity.”
Thompson added that Irving, whose career has flourished in Dallas, was among the first players to contact him. Both players entered the NBA in 2011—Irving as Cleveland’s No. 1 overall pick—and have met in three consecutive NBA Finals.
