Klay Thompson has left the Golden State Warriors and his partnership with Stephen Curry to join the Dallas Mavericks, playing alongside Luka Doncic. The shooting guard, who departed from the team where he won four NBA championships, shared some insights into the reasons behind his decision to switch sides in the Western Conference, with the Slovenian star playing a pivotal role in this move.
In an interview following Dallas’s victory over the Milwaukee Bucks last Thursday (17), Thompson was asked about the chemistry he anticipates having with Doncic, especially since he did not participate in any of the preseason games. Klay praised Doncic’s capabilities, asserting confidence that they will excel as teammates.
“Honestly, I don’t see much of a problem with that. We will be great together regardless. One of the main reasons I came here is the opportunity to play alongside Luka Doncic. There are 82 regular-season games for us to build chemistry. But to be honest, I think he is such a good player that he won’t need much time for that,” the sharpshooter stated.
Thompson took the court three times during the preseason, converting just six of his 18 attempts from beyond the arc, which amounts to a shooting percentage of 33.3%. His performance against the Bucks’ reserves was his best during the preseason, where he scored 11 points and grabbed six rebounds, while sinking three of his seven three-point attempts.
However, if Luka Doncic was the draw for Klay Thompson to join the Mavericks, it is fair to say that people in Dallas are excited about the shooting guard’s commitment. In a recent interview, head coach Jason Kidd expressed his surprise at Thompson’s impressive work ethic thus far, especially in practice.
“Well, we’re talking about someone who is in his 14th season. Sometimes, you need to adapt a few things with this type of player in the offseason. But it’s amazing how hard he has been working. He loves to play and, above all, he works very hard at his craft. I feel like he wants to fit into the system in any way possible, feeling a bit behind since he’s a new player. So, it’s truly impressive. It just shows what kind of player and person he is,” the coach praised.
With preparation wrapping up, the franchise is now focused on their season opener for 2024/25 against the San Antonio Spurs next Thursday (24). Doncic, who dealt with a calf issue at the start of preparations, is expected to be available for the game. This means that the partnership with Thompson and the debut of the trio alongside Kyrie Irving should not be far off.
The only confirmed absence is Dante Exum. The defensive specialist will be out for about three months.
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