Conducting his first interview as a Maverick, Klay Thompson gave a simple analysis of his game as he prepares to enter the next chapter of his career.
“At this point,” he said with a bit of a sly grin, “you still can’t leave me open.”
No, you can’t.
After reaching the NBA Finals last season, the Mavericks had a glaring need for a next-level shooter. That was made evident by their unsightly three-point shooting against Boston in the Finals when they shot below 30 percent in three of the five games and only 31.6 percent for the series.
And there’s nobody who is more next-level beyond Thompson.
The former Golden State Warrior joined fellow incoming Mavericks Naji Marshall and Quentin Grimes in an introductory news conference on Tuesday, along with Mavericks’ vice president of basketball operations and assistant general manager Michael Finley.
“Every team in the league would love to have more shooting,” Finley said. “It was obvious during our playoff run, especially the games we lost, if we had more shooting, it gives us a better opportunity to win those games.
“In the Finals, we saw that. If we make a shot here or there, then it’s a different series. It’s not going to be the ultimate answer. But it gives us a better chance to win those games when we need big shots to be made.”
Thompson brings an impeccable resume with him. In his 11 seasons with the Warriors, they won four NBA championships, and Thompson made 2,481 three-pointers and shot 41.3 percent. He missed two full seasons to injury.
Only five players in NBA history have made more three-pointers than Thompson.
And now, he’s a Maverick, set to join forces with Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving in one of the most potent offensive threesomes in NBA history.
He closes a long, storied chapter in Golden State. But it was something that had to happen, he said.
“Whether you play basketball or work in the corporate world, sometimes change can spur greatness and a new change of scenery can do wonders,” Thompson said. “And I’m very grateful for my time at Golden State. But I just felt like moving on could re-energize me and do something special for the rest of my career.
“Dallas was so attractive because of the young players they have, the style of play, the world-class treatment these players get. Just a beautiful city that loves their hoops. When I was watching the Mavs make a run for the championship, I just saw myself fitting in really well with this team. They looked like they had fun playing with each other and they played for each other. That was very attractive for me. That’s really all I needed to see.”
Thompson, of course, was half of the Splash Brothers, with Steph Curry alongside him. They were without question the best-shooting backcourt in NBA history. But as Thompson said, all good things must come to an end.
“Sometimes breakups are necessary to do what’s right,” he said. “I’m not the first athlete in the NBA to go through this. I (grew) up in Portland and I remember when Scottie Pippen came to the Blazers, that was like the biggest day of my life. I’m not saying I’m Scottie, but they were right there against the Lakers, almost won a ‘ship.
“So I take a lot of inspiration from past athletes when they joined a new team. Some guys thrive. And I look forward to just kind of being rejuvenated here and playing a lot of good basketball left in the tank.”
That’s really the only question that anybody could have about Thompson, who missed the 2019-20 season and the following year with first a knee injury and then an Achilles injury. How much does he have left?
He returned in 2021-22 to average 20.4 points in 32 games. He averaged 21.9 points the following season in 69 games and last year had 17.9 points and played 77 of 82 games.
It was the last game of his Warriors’ career that he’ll remember, at least in the short term. They lost a play-in tournament game at Sacramento, losing 118-94. It was a time of uncertainty for Thompson.
“Our season ended, my contract was coming up,” he said. “I didn’t have the best night, going scoreless, getting beat by 24. It still stings. But I remember (thinking), I’m going to take this all in because there’s nothing guaranteed in pro sports. While I was still in that Warriors uniform, seeing Warriors fans littered throughout the arena, I was still very grateful at that moment. I just wanted to take it all in, because you never know when a good thing comes to an end.”
And it did.
“There were times last year when it was really tough,” Thompson said. “Everyone expects you to be that all-NBA player and sometimes, it’s hard to consistently do that. Coming here is just such a fresh start in feeling wanted again and like I bring great value.
“So yeah, there was times last year when it was tough, when it wasn’t as joyful as it was in the past. It’s nice to kind of shed that and have a whole new fresh start, new coworkers, new city, it’s really cool, and I’m going to embrace the heck out of this opportunity.”
And he is keenly aware that the opportunity to join a team that was in the NBA Finals last season is something that not every player gets.
“I’m embracing it. There’s a great buzz around the city, especially coming off a championship appearance,” he said. “Everyone wants to get over that hump and that’s what was attractive to me. To be someone who can help them win. Being on the back end of my career, or in my 30s, it’s so special to have this opportunity.
“Not many guys who play 13 years get a chance to win a championship – or championships – to end their career. And I think we’re set up for a great run. Expectations are high, but you got to welcome that. That’s what you want as an athlete. You want to have that pressure and have expectations from the fan base and the city that we want a winner.
“I’m not really into breaking more shooting records. I just want to win at this point.”
Teaming up with Irving, who came into the league the same year as Thompson, and Dončić is one of the lures that convinced Thompson that this was the place for him in free agency. He made his decision last week to forsake the Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers, among others.
Thompson has spent a lot of time as a defender against both players. He’s ready to be on the same side.
“Kyrie and I are good friends,” Thompson said. “We came into the league together in 2011, we played on Team USA together twice, obviously played against each other in the highest stages for many years (in the NBA Finals three times). I’ve always been a fan of Kai’s game.
“Guarding him is hell so it’s nice to be on the other end of that for once and see other defenders get shook by him. That’s going to be a good sight to see.”
And as for Luka?
“You could see he had greatness ahead of him,” Thompson said. “I’m pretty sure he gave us a triple-double in Oracle in 2019 (23 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists) as a rookie. So you saw the potential early. Just playing off him Kai and the rest of the guys, I can help them space the floor, knock down shots, play defense or whatever’s needed.”
And, in case there was any doubt: “I can guard and I still think I can do what I’ve been able to do. I still know I can be a very, very good player in this league.”
And perhaps most importantly, he’s been there, done that.
So many trips to the NBA Finals. So many rings.
He knows the wisdom that comes with that is important. It’s akin to Finley, who left the Mavericks in 2005 and would win a championship with San Antonio two seasons later.
“We talked about this at dinner,” Finley said of a Monday night gathering. “And it wasn’t about the basketball. I talked to him more about the experience and the veteran leadership he can bring. The difference is he is a champion going to a different team. I was a guy trying to get a championship.
“But the experience and veteran leadership, we do have a commonality there. I think with Klay, he can bring that experience and knowledge as well as Luka and Kai. Experience is key and he brings that to the table.”
And what else became obvious was the fact that the Mavericks now know how to reel in a big free-agent fish, something they couldn’t do for so many years.
“Winning: Everyone wants to be part of a winner,” Finley said of the difference-maker. “In the past, Dallas has had some winning teams, but we just couldn’t get over the hump of being a consistent winner. And over the last couple years, word has gotten around that not only are we a winning organization on the court, but off the court as well.
“And I think with that, it makes it attractive for guys like this to want to join us. And make our organization even better. Winning is very easy to sell to athletes these days.”
X: @ESefko
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