From Splash Brother to Struggling Star: Klay Thompson’s Rocky Dallas Debut Sparks Doubt About Mavericks’ Vision

Klay Thompson’s first season with the Dallas Mavericks was far from the triumphant new chapter many envisioned. After a celebrated tenure with the Golden State Warriors, where he was a cornerstone of four championship teams, Thompson’s transition to Dallas proved turbulent. His arrival came via a complex six-team sign-and-trade last offseason, landing him a three-year, $50 million deal. However, the Mavericks’ season was derailed by instability, including the fallout from a blockbuster trade involving Luka Dončić and a devastating ACL injury to Kyrie Irving. Ultimately, the team failed to reach the playoffs.

Throughout the season, Thompson’s role was inconsistent, and he found himself less central than during his Warriors days. Part of this decline is attributable to the structural differences between Golden State’s system and what Dallas is trying to replicate. With the Warriors, Thompson flourished alongside Stephen Curry, whose unmatched shooting gravity opened up the floor for Thompson’s lethal off-ball movement. Golden State often succeeded even with two non-shooting bigs—Draymond Green and Kevon Looney—because of the unique space-creating duo of Curry and Thompson.

Dallas may attempt a similar approach next season, especially with the potential pairing of Anthony Davis and either Daniel Gafford or Dereck Lively II. Yet, without someone of Curry’s caliber to draw defenders and orchestrate the offense, forcing Thompson into a more prominent role might be counterproductive. At 36 and coming off a season where he shot a career-low 41.2% from the field, expecting him to replicate his prime production may be unrealistic. Instead, Dallas must recalibrate its expectations and find a system that better aligns with its current roster realities.