Since reaching the final last season, then Dallas Mavericks acquire Klay Thompson have become one of the most exciting teams in the league. The dynamic duo of Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic is fun to watch, sure, but there’s nothing in the league like player drama. After all, Thompson was once a valuable piece to four championship Warriors teams, but disagreements over his contract and back-to-back subpar seasons led to a painful divorce. It’s gotten to the point where Thompson even asked Stephen Curry He doesn’t want to use his influence to get the Warriors to keep him. Now, many players are looking forward to the Mavericks-Warriors matchup next season.
Former #1 pick Kenyon Martin comments on this first match in a conversation with Gilbert Arenas and Rashad McCants on a recent episode of Arenas’ podcast, Gil’s Arena.
“Klay’s gonna get 35 shots,” Martin said. “Listen, they’re gonna make sure he gets every shot.” Did head coach Jason Kidd like him getting 35 shots? Martin added: “J-Kidd’s got an asshole in him, so yeah, they’re gonna make sure that kid gets every shot.”
Kenyon Martin and crew talk Mavericks vs. Warriors
Arenas and McCants also gave their own thoughts on the match.
“All he has to do is… listen, you’re going to make 35 shots,” Arenas said. “Just shoot 35 times. Don’t worry about missing.”
McCants added: “If they’re going to focus their game plan on Klay and they still got Luka and Kyrie, I’ll tell you what you do? You gotta let somebody go.” On Kidd’s potential decision to let Klay Thompson shoot 35 shots, McCants continued: “That’s what I like about J-Kidd, though. He targets n***as. He goes right at them.”
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“This is old-school basketball!” Arenas replied. “This is old-school NBA. If you can’t defend, you’re going to be picked on all game.”
After losing to the Boston Celtics in the Finals, the Mavericks were aggressive improve their listwhich led to the signing and trade of Klay Thompson. If they intend for him to play the third superstar part of a Big Three, then this is an interesting development, because in recent years, Big Threes of star players have stopped working.
The last one to win a title was the Warriors with Kevin Durant, that’s why he kept trying a The Big Three Back in Brooklyn and Phoenix. Both teams have never reached the Finals. Meanwhile, LeBron James and the The Los Angeles Lakers tried the experiment with Russell Westbrookbut it wasn’t a good idea and they ended up missing the playoffs.
Thompson is still an elite shooter, though, and he’ll find himself open on multiple occasions as Kyrie and Doncic collapse the defense. If they turn him into a pure catch-and-shoot player, then the Mavericks could be one of the most dangerous teams in the Western Conference.
