The Mavericks brought Klay to Dallas to be the veteran presence on a contender, and he turned into a veteran leader in the franchise’s darkest time.
When Klay Thompson sat down to dinner last summer with Nico Harrison and Michael Finley to discuss his possible future with the Dallas Mavericks, his desire to play next to Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, to help the defending Western Conference Champions reach the mountain top, it’s hard to imagine that this is what he envisioned. But the four-time NBA Champion and eventual hall-of-famer navigated a tumultuous time playing his first pro season away from the Golden State Warriors. The team brought him to Dallas to be a veteran leader for a contender, and instead Thompson helped navigate the darkest time in the franchise’s history. While he has spoken confidently about his commitment to be a leader of this team, it is possible the future is unclear.
Season in review
After 13 years with the Warriors, 11 playing seasons plus two straight seasons out with injury, Thompson sought new opportunity with Dallas — at the time seen as one of the most promising teams in the league. His final season out west left questions of whether he could be a core piece, a starter, for a contending team. A mix of age and injury impacting the ways Thompson was most lethal, though his competitive drive and determination were never questioned.
Those initial concerns were quieted to start the year, Thompson going 15-of-33 from three in the Mavericks’ first three games. The offense from supporting players around Doncic and Irving that was absent in the finals now felt like a roaring lion in the form of Thompson.
The season personally for Thompson was up and down, and metrics for measuring the campaign as a whole are muddied given the earth shattering changes in the middle. But to Thompson’s credit he remained a level headed leader on and off the floor. He played in 72 games (the second most appearances on the roster this season), averaging 14 points, 3.4 rebounds, and two assists while shooting 39-percent from three. His scoring average is his lowest mark since his rookie season, but his ability to get hot from deep blended with his high basketball IQ was impactful even on nights where he wasn’t feeling it. Thompson’s play, even in his twilight years, may always remain a sliding doors of possibility had the team stayed competitive and the trade never happened.
Best game
Even before the season shifted there were few things I wanted more on a night-to-night basis that seeing Klay go off against his former team. Seeing a star player face-off against his former teammates is always appointment television. You could see the adrenaline pumping through Klay each time they played the Warriors. In his four games against Golden State, Thompson averaged 19.8 points and shot nearly 48-percent from three! There was only one other opponent he averaged more against this season.
None more exciting than the all-offense game back on December 15, when he scored a season high 29 points, adding five rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block while going 7-of-11 from three, in a 143-133 win in the Bay. Thompson had 13 fourth quarter points, including connecting 3-of-3 from deep.
It was late in this game that the Mavericks turned to a high two-man game from Thompson and Doncic, where Klay broke off of his screen to hit a dagger three. Luka finished with 45 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists. Kyrie Irving had 21 points and eight assists.
This was one of just 14 games played between the lineup of Doncic, Irving, Thompson, PJ Washington, and Dereck Lively II. In their 119 minutes together they had an Offensive-rating of 127.9 and a Defensive-rating of 104.4, good for a +23.5 Net-rating. Impossible to project out over a lost season, but of the 32 five-man lineups that played at least 200 minutes together across the league for the whole year, only nine other groups had a Defensive-rating under 105.
Contract status
Thompson is finishing the first of a three-year $50 million contract.
Looking ahead
Thompson handled any questions about last summer’s decision with hindsight, or any question about his future, as any level headed and responsible vet would. Klay always seems to keep it real, but he’s also been a player other’s can look to in adversity. Both he and Irving have been a stabilizing force for this roster in that way.
But no one would fault Thompson for looking elsewhere this offseason. His intentions to start anew away from Golden State was not just to prove that he still had the juice, but also to compete for titles. Whatever feelings you have about this roster when healthy, they won’t be competing for anything as it stands with Irving rehabbing. Depending on what, if anything, a front office in spiral can do this summer — there are plenty of question marks for Thompson over the break.
Grade: B+
I’m tipping my captain’s hat to Thompson. Nico Harrison and ownership destroyed this season, and possibly many more to come. But Klay remained a leader throughout. He could have sat out, protected himself, and sought a way out. In what was already a difficult move for him away from all the success he built before, Klay handled all of this like a pro.
Was he the third star that the Mavericks were trying to find? No, likely not. But Thompson can be a valuable contributor in the right role and any contending team would be lucky to have him.