Count Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan among those very impressed that the Dallas Mavericks were able to sign free agent
guard Klay Thompson this summer via free agency.
“They’re playing really good basketball and they’re very, very talented and gifted, and then obviously with (Luka) Dončić and Kyrie (Irving) out there it really makes it very, very difficult, because not only can those guys really score at an elite level, they’re also very, very willing passers and they’ve got good vision and obviously shooting around them,” Donovan said. “And I think with a guy like Klay, he’s probably going to get a lot of those open looks from those guys.”
Donovan is not just impressed with what Thompson gives the Mavs from an offensive standpoint. He knows what intangibles Thompson gave Golden State during his 13-year tenure with the Warriors.
“Listen, Klay’s played on a lot of really, really great teams,” Donovan said. “He knows what it takes to win, he knows what goes into winning, and he’s a consummate pro.
“I think one of the things that Klay gets a lot of credit for, and rightfully so, is his ability to shoot the ball. But I‘ve always felt like throughout his career he’s a very, very underrated defender. People didn’t give him enough credit for how good he was defensively.”
It wasn’t just the addition of Thompson to the Mavs’ roster that got Donovan’s attention. He also raved about Quentin Grimes, Spencer Dinwiddie, P. J. Washington, 
Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II.
“They’ve got obviously a lot of offensive firepower, and I also think that defensively they’ve got a unique situation,” Donovan said. “One, is that they’ve got shooting all over the place and I think that that’s really, really good for Luka and Kyrie because those two guys draw so much attention to themselves.
“Washington’s ability to stretch the floor and post people defensively (is great). Gafford and Lively are tremendous rollers to the rim and put pressure at the basket. Even Grimes and Dinwiddie coming off the bench, those guys are all really, really good offensive players wherever they’ve been.”
KIDD RAVES ABOUT THE MAVS: Mavs coach Jason Kidd wanted to remind his listeners one thing about his team before Wednesday’s game against the Chicago Bulls.
“We’ve got a really nice basketball team,” he said. “Right now we’ve got to find our rhythm. Due to the amount of fouls and offensive rebounds that we’re giving up, it’s kind of slowed our offense down. For that we’ve been poor, but a lot of room for improvements.”
Injuries also have stunted the Mavs’ growth. P. J. Washington (right knee sprain), Dereck Lively II (right shoulder sprain), Maxi Kleber (right hamstring strain) and Dante Exum (right wrist surgery) all missed Wednesday’s 119-99 victory over the Chicago Bulls.
“With the injuries that we have right now, that gives other guys an opportunity to play to see what we have, and that would just make the team stronger on this marathon,” Kidd said. “We believe that our bench is one of the best in the league. This gives those guys an opportunity to play.
“And it’s good early in the season, I think, when you look at injuries — the positives that there are others that have the opportunity to play and play probably more minutes than normal. We believe that we can still go out there and compete at a high level.”
Still, his team’s inability to hold its own on the boards eats at Kidd.
“We’re below average at best right now at rebounding the basketball,” he said. “And then defensively, transition defense is something that we got to get better at, because if a team is going to run on us in transition it’s an automatic basket.
“If it’s not a two, it’s a three. If you’re 28th in transition defense, you have to be better. Right now, we’re below average. We’ve got a ways to go.”
DONOVAN HIGH ON DONCIC: Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan said a few years ago when he was in Spain, a Barcelona coach was trying to give him some inside information on a kid name Luka Dončić.
“I knew of (Dončić) and heard his name and had really never really seen him play, and he was raving to me about him at that time and he was like maybe 17 or 18 years old,” Donovan said. “He came off the bench for them. He played OK.”
Dončić eventually became the No. 3 overall pick of the 2018 NBA Draft, and a five-time All-Star in his first six seasons with the Mavs.
“I think once he kind of came (to the NBA) as a rookie it was pretty clear what his impact was going to be,” Donovan said. “The one thing is he really rises up in pressure situations, which I have great respect and admiration for.
“I think the other thing too is he’s just a basketball savant mentally. He’s seen every possible coverage. He’s got great vision and size.”
Donovan also is in awe with Dončić‘s ability to put defenders in awkward positions.
“I’ve never seen a guy at the point guard position – and I’m talking about elite defenders in this league – like walk down the lane and just body his way in and take layups,” Donovan said. “He’s certainly a tough cover for anybody.
“But I think you could see his rookie year that he was going to continue to get better and better and better, and certainly he’s established himself as one of the best players in this league.”
SEEMS LIKE YESTERDAY — NOT: It was 30 years ago Tuesday that Jason Kidd made his NBA debut — with the Mavs — against the New Jersey Nets. Kidd was the No. 2 overall pick in the 1994 NBA draft by the Mavs.
Of his first game, Kidd said: “I do remember, unfortunately. I think it was (New) Jersey. (Nets point guard) Kenny Anderson, I was scared to death. Him and Derrick Coleman. Kenny was one of the best point guards in the league and he was extremely quick. Back then there was no team defense. It was just you against him. I felt like I was on an island.”
The Mavs won that game, 112-103, and Kidd finished with 10 points, nine rebounds and 11 assists in 35 minutes. On the flip side, Anderson collected 30 points, three rebounds and six assists and was 9-of-20 from the field.
X: @DwainPrice
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