Two Mavs stars agree that Klay Thompson is the key to the title aspirations

“The competition.” That was the name chosen by Luka Doncic when asked for one word that could sum up what the Mavericks’ direction will be this coming NBA season. He needed only a few seconds to come up with the perfect answer, during the team’s media day before heading to Las Vegas for training camp.

“That’s the goal,” he insisted, as he had one player in mind. The expectation in Dallas is that the arrival of Klay Thompson this summer will serve as the perfect ingredient to improve the winning ways of the team, which almost won the last title of the campaign in the finals against Boston.

The four-time champion, who spent 13 magical years in Golden State, must have the mindset to win it all. “I feel like our dreams can come true because he’s here now,” Kyrie Irving said of the sharpshooter, who was a classmate in 2011. “He added a lot of value to our championship aspirations.”

Luke, Kyrie say Klay is key to Mavs title aspirations

– Ron Bohning (@RonBohning) October 1, 2024

While the veteran emphasized how valuable Klay’s experience can be, there are doubts about how the former star can perform at 34 years old. Despite his exceptional shooting, it is true that Thompson did not perform very well last season in California.

However, this is what the Mavericks are betting on, as they prioritized adding a three-point threat this offseason, after struggling since the NBA Finals, as they shot just 31.6% from beyond the arc. The rookie is a career 41.3% point guard shooter who ranks sixth in NBA history with 2,481 threes made.

“When me and Kai, when we have the ball, you can’t help Klay,” explained the Slovenian player. “Because if you leave him open, he will succeed. So I think the spaces will be important for us, but more than that, I will tell you after a few games.”

As for coach Jason Kidd, he is sure that they haven’t had a shooter like Klay in a long time. “We’ve had shooters, but we haven’t had Jason Terry or Klay Thompson,” he confirmed. “This is an unusual atmosphere. Speaking of Klay, he will go down as one of the best shooters of all time. So having him on our side, makes the game easier offensively. Spacing is a big thing in our league.”

Even before training camp, the former Warriors star explained why the Mavs have the ‘ingredients’ for an NBA title.

After reaching the NBA Finals and losing the series to the Celtics back in June, the Mavericks surprised the NBA world with one of the hottest trades of the summer. After 13 long seasons in Golden State, Klay Thompson decided to change his luck and try something new in Dallas, as he is convinced that this team has something “special.”

As for the Texan franchise, they hope the four-time champion is the missing ingredient that can push them to their first NBA title in a decade. The sniper is already settling into his new life in Dallas as the new campaign approaches, and he recently sat down with insider Grant Afseth to share his excitement.

“I’m excited; it’s a new chapter in my career that could be special,” Thompson said. “The team was very close last year—three wins in the tournament—so I know we have the ingredients for success.”

The player then revealed that he still has feelings for the city. “We have to stay together and build week by week,” added Klay. “I know we can do something special, that’s why I came early, just to experience the city and the country. And I’m having fun while I’m doing it.”