Chicago Bulls Head Coach Billy Donovan is reportedly impressed with Dallas Mavericks Shooting Guard Klay Thompson. Donovan, 59, has been serving as the Bulls Head Coach since 2020 after professional and college basketball coaching tenures with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Florida, Marshall, and Kentucky.
Donovan’s professional basketball career was just from 1987 to 1989 for the Wyoming Wildcats, New York Knicks, and Rapid City Thrillers. So, in a sense, Donovan can understand Thompson’s new team for a change of scenery in Dallas, Texas. Read on for Donovan’s compliments for Thompson and the Mavericks.
Billy Donovan Is Impressed
Billy Donovan is reportedly impressed with Klay Thompson. Donovan was one of the many people who were delighted to hear that the Mavericks managed to sign Thompson this offseason through free agency.
Donovan told Mavs.com, “They’re playing really good basketball and they’re very, very talented and gifted, and then obviously with (Luka) Doncic and Kyrie (Irving) out there it really makes it very, very difficult, because not only can those guys really score at an elite level, they’re also very, very willing passers and they’ve got good vision and obviously shooting around them … And I think with a guy like Klay (Thompson), he’s probably going to get a lot of those open looks from those guys.”
Donovan’s rather clear compliments can double as observations. This NBA season is young, but Thompson has been helping the Mavericks with his stellar skills, including shooting, and his veteran leadership and experience. As long as Thompson stays healthy, Thompson’s services can help the Mavericks succeed this season.
Billy Donovan Is Certain
Billy Donovan is impressed with Klay Thompson but he’s also certain that Thompson gave intangibles during his 13-year tenure with the Golden State Warriors. Donovan told Mavs.com, “Listen, Klay’s played on a lot of really, really great teams … He knows what it takes to win, he knows what goes into winning, and he’s a consummate pro.”
“I think one of the things that Klay (Thompson) gets a lot of credit for, and rightfully so, is his ability to shoot the ball. But I’ve always felt like throughout his career he’s a very, very underrated defender. People didn’t give him enough credit for how good he was defensively.”
Donovan had a point in his recent statement about Thompson. Some, if not most, people didn’t give Thompson enough credit for his defense, as he was an arguably elite defender in his prime. Thompson might’ve lost a step due to his injuries, but his versatility of guarding players past the three-point line and cutting off passing lanes remains.
Donovan’s Other Thoughts
Billy Donovan didn’t just stop at Klay Thompson’s impact on the Dallas Mavericks. Donovan’s other thoughts centered on the Mavericks’ offense. Donovan told Mavs.com, “They’ve got obviously a lot of offensive firepower, and I also think that defensively they’ve got a unique situation … One, is that they’ve got shooting all over the place and I think that that’s really, really good for Luka (Doncic) and Kyrie (Irving) because those two guys draw so much attention to themselves.”
Donovan continued, “(PJ) Washington’s ability to stretch the floor and post people defensively (is great). (Daniel) Gafford and (Dereck) Lively are tremendous rollers to the rim and put pressure at the basket. Even (Quentin) Grimes and (Spencer) Dinwiddie coming off the bench, those guys are all really, really good offensive players wherever they’ve been.”
Donovan’s praise for the Mavericks is insightful. But, at the same time, the Mavericks’ inability to hold their own on the boards reportedly eats at Mavericks Head Coach Jason Kidd. Kidd recently expressed his desire for his team to improve on transition defense.
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