Klay Thompson is done playing for the Golden State Warriors, but he’s not done as an NBA player and he sounds like he can’t wait to get to work for the Dallas Mavericks. As this new and perhaps final chapter of Thompson’s Hall-of-Fame career begins on a three-year, $50 million contract in Dallas, he told reporters on Tuesday that he’s “not mad at the change” of playing for a team other than the Warriors for the first time in his professional life, and that he’s “actually excited for it.” One of these changes for Thompson will be the number on his back. For 13 years Thompson wore No. 11, which the Warriors have already said will be retired, but in Dallas that number is occupied
By Kyrie Irving. Thompson will wear No. 31 with the Mavericks, and he did not select that number at random.
He selected it to honor Reggie Miller, another all-time great shooter who wore No. 31 with the Pacers and on whom Thompson had modeled his game since he was a teenager.
“As a teenager, I saw a lot of footage of Reggie coming off TVs. Particularly his ability to hit game-winning shots. That was the most inspiring thing to observe as a shooter because he had no worry that if he made or missed the shot, he would live or die as a result,” Thompson added. “I still remember that image of him in the East finals pushing off [Michael Jordan], curving off to the right
Klay Thompson will wear No. 31 for the Mavericks, here's why:#OneForDallas | @dallasmavs on @BallySports 📺 pic.twitter.com/hnWhkm2h03
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“Wing and cashing that three [pointer].”
“That’s how I designed my game, simply being able to spread the floor, and you can’t leave me open like you couldn’t left Reggie exposed. That was an encouragement to me. I figured passing [Miller] in [career] made 3s would be a fantastic way to commemorate someone who paved the path for a shooter like me.” Thompson now ranks sixth all-time with 2,481 career three-pointers. Miller ranks fifth with 2,560. To pass Miller, Thompson only needs to make 80 3-pointers this season. Barring an extended injury, he’s almost certain to accomplish so.
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