Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd recently discussed a range of subjects with the media, including his career, the game, and his team’s situation going into the current campaign. The arrival of Klay Thompson will open up a whole new world of opportunity for the current Western Conference champs, as Kidd explained.
The Klay Thompson persona. It’s simple. This is not going to be a difficult task. We genuinely think he provides us with something we haven’t had,” Kidd stated, as reported by Dallas Morning News. “A man who doesn’t mind taking the risk. He has experienced championship circumstances. He knows what that implies. We think we’re assembling a team that will win championships. His background, his experience in major games, and his ability to play on both ends make him a veteran. We genuinely think he can make big shots and have fun, but we will rely on him because he is a championship winner. We will require his guidance and direction during our expedition.
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The Mavericks would be among the favorites to win the West in 2025 with or without Klay Thompson. The Mavericks surpassed predictions last season, in their first full season with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving together, winning 50 games in the regular season before advancing to the NBA Finals.
With their combined offensive prowess last season, the Luka and Irving tandem dominated the league. Their partnership has shown to be very efficient thus far. Players like as P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford, and Dereck Lively II in the frontcourt served to fortify Dallas’ defense and provide some resistance on the interior against the best big men in the league. The Mavericks have more potential for success than ever now that they have Klay Thompson.
Klay Thompson decided it was best to go for a fresh start following a turbulent season with the Warriors and tense contract discussions. For that reason, he inked a three-year, $50 million contract with the Mavericks this past summer. The majority of the recruiting was handled by Kyrie Irving, but it didn’t take long to convince Klay of the plan.
Thompson provides the Mavericks with invaluable championship experience as a four-time champion, five-time All-Star, and two-time All-NBA player. In addition to his lifetime 41% three-point shooting percentage, Thompson’s skillful shooting will help the team spread the floor and give Kyrie and Luka more opportunities.
Following two serious injuries, Klay Thompson is 34 years old and not quite the player he once was. His performance dropped to 17.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game on 43% shooting during the previous campaign. He played 29.7 minutes a night on average, which was one of his lowest totals ever.
The Mavericks still think Klay can be the deciding piece for them, despite his obvious deterioration, and we won’t have to wait long to find out for sure. Adding one of the best shooters ever will definitely help tip the odds in favor of a club that only months ago came within three wins of the championship.
However, the Mavericks might not have it so easy, and they’ll need to put in a lot of effort to make sure Klay has a smooth transition. Should all go according to plan, the Mavericks may win their first championship since 2011.
For the first game of the NBA Cup, Klay Thompson returns to the Bay Area to take on the Warriors.
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