BREAKING: Klay Thompson Opens Up about Leaving the Mavs after Loss…

Klay Thompson’s Shocking Move to Mavericks Ends in Disappointment, But He Refuses to Look Back on Tumultuous Season

After securing four NBA championships with the Golden State Warriors and spending the first 13 years of his illustrious career there, Klay Thompson made a surprising move last offseason by signing with the Dallas Mavericks. His debut season with the Mavericks, however, was far from the smooth transition many expected. Thompson’s performance dipped, as he averaged just 14.0 points per game—the lowest of his career since his rookie year—while posting shooting splits of 41.2% from the field, 39.1% from three-point range, and 90.5% from the free-throw line. Despite his reputation as one of the NBA’s greatest shooters, the 35-year-old Thompson seemed to struggle to find his rhythm in a new environment.

The Mavericks’ season ended in disappointment when they were eliminated from playoff contention after a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies in the play-in tournament. The team’s struggles were compounded by a series of setbacks, including the trade of superstar Luka Dončić for Anthony Davis, only for Davis to get injured, and the season-ending ACL tear of star point guard Kyrie Irving. In the face of all this adversity, the Mavericks still managed to fall just one game short of a playoff spot, showcasing their resilience despite a challenging year.

After the loss to Memphis, Thompson was asked if he would still make the same decision to join Dallas given the tumultuous season. With characteristic defiance, Thompson responded, “Don’t do this to me. Don’t do that. That’s kind of a ridiculous question because I don’t own a time machine, and I don’t believe in going back or looking back. If I did that my whole career, I would not be where I’m at and I wouldn’t have been able to persevere through two really hard injuries. I’m here in Dallas, and I enjoyed my time and I’m looking forward to the future.”

Thompson’s answer underscores his resilient mindset—one that has been shaped by overcoming personal setbacks, including two major injuries that nearly derailed his career. His positive outlook suggests he isn’t dwelling on what went wrong, but instead focusing on what’s ahead. With the Mavericks poised for a fresh start next season, Thompson’s veteran presence and shooting ability will remain integral to their hopes of returning to the playoffs and beyond. Despite this challenging season, both Thompson and the Mavericks are optimistic about the future, ready to put this setback behind them and rebuild for the next chapter.