THE The Dallas Mavericks made a splash this offseason by signing Klay Thompson far from the Golden State Warriors for a three-year, $50 million contract. It will be strange for most NBA fans to see Thompson playing for another team, but it might be even stranger for his former coaches.
Mark Jackson, who was Thompson’s first NBA head coach from 2011-14, recently appeared on “SWAYS UNIVERSE” and discussed Thompson’s departure from the organization and what he thought about the addition on the Mavericks side.
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“I think in an ideal world, Klay Thompson would end up with the Golden State Warriors. But you know how this business works,” Jackson said. “Loyalty only works one way, and that’s not a criticism of the Warriors, that’s just the way sports work. Not everybody signs a contract at the end like Derek Jeter did. Honestly, when you look back, they probably should have let him go, given his talent.”
“Klay Thompson is going to be great and he’s a great addition to the Dallas Mavericks. Unfortunately, he didn’t finish his career with the Golden State Warriors, but that’s not the way the world works. I’m proud of Klay Thompson because when we drafted him, he’d be the first to tell you that. I’m proud as a coach and as a friend.”
The Mavericks are convinced Thompson is the missing piece they need to win an NBA championship. A big reason they lost to the Boston Celtics In last year’s NBA Finals, there was a lack of shooting from distance, something Thompson can still provide at a high level.
Thompson struggled to reach his standards last year, averaging 17.9 PPG and shooting 38.7 percent from three-point range, but he ranks sixth in NBA history for most three-pointers made and is expected to play outside the end zone. Luka Doncic And Kyrie Irving Well, thus allowing them more space to operate.
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