To everyone's surprise, or almost, Klay Thompson ended up leaving the Warriors this summer, his long-time franchise, for the Mavericks. A nice move from the reigning finalists, who have bought the experience and especially the shooting quality of the four-time NBA champion in the hope that he will help them win the Grail next season.
Behind this recruitment, Jason Kidd remembers one name more than another: that of Kyrie Irvingwho played alongside him with Team USA at the 2014 World Cup and then at the 2016 Olympic Games.
” There were a lot of people involved in his recruitment and one of the main ones is Kyrie » unveils so the Mavs coach. From player to player, he was able to detail his experience in Dallas over the past two years and tell him the truth about what he imagined could happen if he came to Dallas.. »
Desired and welcomed with open arms in Texas
Former “best enemy” of Klay Thompson, during the rivalry between the Warriors and Cavaliers, Kyrie Irving has therefore invested a lot in helping the Texan leaders to obtain the favors of the “Splash Brother”, ready to offer himself a second youth with Luka Doncic and “Uncle Drew”.
” I would love to say it was all because of me, but it wasn't. ” Jason Kidd then adds. ” It was a team effort. But I think in this league, players talk about their situations, they recruit each other. Kyrie and Klay were able to talk, but I also think Klay did his research, understood the situation. It would have been easy for him to stay. [aux Warriors ou en Californie]but he made an effort to learn about what Dallas had to offer him. »
At 34, Klay Thompson is no longer the five-time All-Star he was in the second half of the 2010s, but he still has plenty to offer a team willing to put its faith in him. That's a good thing: the Mavericks intend to turn to him fully in 2024–25.
” We firmly believe that he brings us something we didn't have: someone who isn't afraid to take a shot. ” says Jason Kidd. ” He's been in situations with a title on the line, he understands what that means. We're building a title team and, as a veteran, with his big-game experience and his ability to play on both ends of the floor, we really think he's going to score a lot of open shots and have fun with us. We're also going to lean on him because he's won titles. We're going to need his guidance, his leadership, and that's going to be throughout the season.. »
| Klay Thompson | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2011-12 | GOS | 66 | 24 | 44.3 | 41.4 | 86.8 | 0.4 | 2.1 | 2.4 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 12.5 |
| 2012-13 | GOS | 82 | 36 | 42.2 | 40.1 | 84.1 | 0.4 | 3.3 | 3.7 | 2.2 | 2.9 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 16.6 |
| 2013-14 | GOS | 81 | 35 | 44.4 | 41.7 | 79.5 | 0.5 | 2.6 | 3.1 | 2.2 | 2.9 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 18.4 |
| 2014-15 | GOS | 77 | 32 | 46.3 | 43.9 | 87.9 | 0.4 | 2.9 | 3.2 | 2.9 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 21.7 |
| 2015-16 | GOS | 80 | 33 | 47.0 | 42.5 | 87.3 | 0.4 | 3.4 | 3.8 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 22.1 |
| 2016-17 | GOS | 78 | 34 | 46.8 | 41.4 | 85.3 | 0.6 | 3.0 | 3.7 | 2.1 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 22.3 |
| 2017-18 | GOS | 73 | 34 | 48.8 | 44.0 | 83.7 | 0.4 | 3.4 | 3.8 | 2.5 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 20.0 |
| 2018-19 | GOS | 78 | 34 | 46.7 | 40.2 | 81.6 | 0.5 | 3.4 | 3.8 | 2.4 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 21.5 |
| 2021-22 | GOS | 32 | 29 | 42.9 | 38.5 | 90.2 | 0.5 | 3.4 | 3.9 | 2.8 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 20.4 |
| 2022-23 | GOS | 69 | 33 | 43.6 | 41.2 | 87.9 | 0.6 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 2.4 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 21.9 |
| 2023-24 | GOS | 77 | 30 | 43.2 | 38.7 | 92.7 | 0.5 | 2.8 | 3.3 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 17.9 |
| Total | 793 | 33 | 45.3 | 41.3 | 85.8 | 0.5 | 3.1 | 3.5 | 2.3 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 19.6 | |
How to read the stats? GM = Games Played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots Made / Shots Attempted; 3pts = 3-pointers / 3-pointers Attempted; LF = Free Throws Made / Free Throws Attempted; Off = Offensive Rebound; Def = Defensive Rebound; Tot = Total Rebounds; Pd = Assists; Fte: Personal Fouls; Int = Steals; Bp = Loose Balls; Ct: Blocks; Pts = Points.
