This HTML code includes an article with a headline and content about Klay Thompson, a basketball player who will be joining the Dallas Mavericks. The article includes an image of Thompson and a caption, as well as several paragraphs of text providing information and analysis about his role on the team. It also includes two display ads.This HTML code includes an article with a headline and content about Klay Thompson, a basketball player who will be joining the Dallas Mavericks. The article includes an image of Thompson and a caption, as well as several paragraphs of text providing information and analysis about his role on the team. It also includes two display ads.
Apr 5, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) warms up before the game against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Klay Thompson’s sixth-man era will likely be a one-off.
Shams Charania of The Athletic spoke on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Monday. During the appearance, Charania revealed that Thompson will definitely start for the Dallas Mavericks next season.
“He’s going to be their starting 3,” Charania said of Thompson. “He’s going to be a guaranteed starter. He’s going to get guaranteed minutes there and a chance to play.”
That’s an interesting plan for five-time All-Star Thompson, now 34 and on the back nine of his NBA career after several brutal lower-body injuries in recent years. Thompson briefly came off the bench for the Golden State Warriors last season and has generally performed well, averaging 17.9 points per game on 38.7 percent shooting from three. But now he gets a chance to start over alongside Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic, utilizing those two elite shot creators for wide-open catch-and-shoot three-point opportunities.
A guaranteed starting spot was almost certainly part of the appeal for Thompson to choose Dallas over other interested free-agent suitors. But it remains to be seen whether that will be the most effective basketball move for the Mavericks. They found lightning in a bottle last season, building a starting five of Irving, Doncic, Derrick Jones Jr., P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford to an impressive NBA Finals appearance. Jones, the best defender of that five, has since left to join the LA Clippers. But Dallas signed 6-foot-7 Naji Marshall to help fill that void. With Thompson joining the fold, it appears Marshall and Washington will now have to battle it out for the starting 4 (with Marshall seemingly holding a slight advantage if the Mavs want to survive on the defensive end).
But even if Thompson returns to his usual role as a starter next season, things will still look very different for him in Dallas (starting with his jersey number).
