The Dallas Mavericks pulled one of the biggest coups this offseason by acquiring Klay Thompson via a sign-and-trade with the Golden State Warriors, and the 34-year-old swingman feels he still has a lot left on his tank.
During an appearance on the Hometown Favorites weekend, Thompson was asked how he’ll fit in with his new team, and the four-time NBA champion said he can be of great help in their pursuit of the Larry O’Brien trophy.
“Me playing with Luka and Kyrie, that’s what was attractive was seeing how, especially watching that championship this year, I was really shocked to see the chemistry with the teammates,” Thompson said via qwik11hoops on X (formerly known as Twitter).
“And at this point in my career, I might not be able to run as fast as I once could or jump as high, but I can still knock down open shots. I think I can be that missing piece for them. The D (defense) can’t guard Kyrie and Luka, they can’t send as many double-teams,” he added.
Klay Thompson is coming off a down year by his lofty standards in 2023-24, averaging 17.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 43.2 percent from the field.
Is Klay Thompson right about being the Dallas Mavericks’ missing piece?
The Dallas Mavericks overachieved last season, as they were three wins away from winning the 2023-24 NBA championship. Many argue that if Klay Thompson had been there, they would’ve been more competitive against the Boston Celtics.
The addition of Klay Thompson opens up the floor more, giving Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving more space to work. If the defense wants to send a double-team to Doncic or Irving, expect Thompson to get open looks, where he is most dangerous since he is a career 41.3 percent three-point shooter.
However, the only knock on Thompson is that he is no longer what he used to be on defense because of the injuries he sustained throughout the years.
