Dallas Mavericks star guard Luka Dončić is reportedly eagerly anticipating the chance to team up with Klay Thompson following Thompson’s move from the Golden State Warriors.
During a discussion on Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon shared Dončić’s sentiments on the Thompson acquisition, stating, “From what I understand, Luka is extremely excited. The folks over here are thrilled about it as well.”
On Monday, Klay Thompson, a five-time All-Star and four-time NBA champion, agreed to a three-year, $50 million contract to join the Dallas Mavericks, who were the defending Western Conference champions.
Reports indicated that Thompson was heavily pursued by the Los Angeles Lakers, with LeBron James personally contacting him as soon as free agency began on Sunday. Despite the Lakers offering a contract that was at least $7 million per season more than Dallas’s offer, Thompson ultimately decided to sign with the Mavericks, leaving the Lakers to reconsider their options.
The Lakers not only made a significant effort to recruit Thompson but also provided a more lucrative contract than Dallas. Nevertheless, Thompson opted not to join the Lakers, the former team of his father Mychal Thompson, who currently works as a broadcaster for the Lakers.
Thompson, who spent 13 seasons with Golden State and earned five All-Star selections and four NBA championships during his tenure, is widely recognized as one of the premier three-point shooters in league history. He has made 41.3% of his career three-point attempts and ranks sixth all-time with 2,481 made threes.
Despite missing significant time due to knee and Achilles injuries in recent years, Thompson returned to form in the last two seasons, averaging over 20 points per game and contributing to the Warriors’ championship win in 2022. However, his performance fluctuated last season, starting slowly before showing improvement later on. He ended the season with averages of 17.9 points, 3.5 three-pointers made, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. His shooting percentages of 43.2% from the field and 38.7% from beyond the arc were below his usual standards.
