Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes recently gave Dallas Mavericks Shooting Guard Klay Thompson a C- in his recent NBA report card. Hughes shared his thoughts on the NBA’s top players on new teams, such as Thompson, Small Forward Paul George, and vice versa. George signed with the Philadelphia 76ers on July 6, 2024, and made his 76ers debut on November 4, 2024, and posted 15 points, five rebounds, and four assists in a 118-116 loss to the Phoenix Suns at the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix. Read on for further details.
Grant Hughes Grades Klay Thompson
Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes recently graded Klay Thompson and gave him a C-. Thompson’s grade could’ve been worse, but a grade in the C range is still acceptable. Hughes’ grades aren’t finalized, as about 20% of the 2024-25 NBA season elapsed, but Thompson’s grade appears to be partially attributed to his sluggish start to open the 2024-25 season.
Thompson seems to appreciate the change of scenery in Dallas, Texas, and get along with his new teammates and coaches. However, Thompson’s on-court struggles could damper the off-court positives. At the time of writing, Thompson posted the worst three-point percentage with 35.6% and the second-lowest scoring average with 13.6 points per game of his NBA career so far this season. At the same time, Thompson appears to do little to alleviate the critics’ concerns about his defensive mobility.
Downside To Thompson
Klay Thompson isn’t perfect. Thompson has flaws like every other NBA player. However, Thompson’s recent cooldown has been concerning following a hot start to the 2024-25 NBA season. Thompson’s Dallas Mavericks debut on October 24, 2024, consisted of 22 points, including six three-pointers made, and seven rebounds in a 120-109 win over the San Antonio Spurs at the American Airlines Center in downtown Dallas.
Fast forward to November 2024, and Thompson is averaging just 12.6 points per game while shooting 33.3% from the three-point line. Thompson’s averages aren’t so bad, especially for an NBA player up in age like himself, but his cooldown is a cause for concern. Thompson hasn’t been consistently converting on wide-open attempts, which has hurt the Mavericks’ offense. Thompson might not return to becoming a vintage “Splash Brother,” but he can certainly be the best version of himself.
Upside To Thompson
It’s safe to say that Klay Thompson hasn’t been a transformative force for the Dallas Mavericks and might never be. Thompson’s statistical decline and declining defensive mobility are arguably the biggest struggles for the 34-year-old at the moment. At the same time, Thompson’s presence on the floor can be described as encouraging, as the Mavericks have had a higher offensive rating with Thompson on the court.
It’s important to note that ups and downs are to be expected for a veteran sharpshooter like Klay Thompson. Thompson’s shooting could be improved, but it’s up to him if he wants to improve his shots. It’s also important to note that the Mavericks haven’t charged out of the gates after high expectations due to the 2024 NBA Finals appearance against the Boston Celtics. The Mavericks’ early regular season has seen injuries, struggles (i.e. a lack of defensive execution), and everything in between. The Mavericks defense has held them back from becoming a top-ten team in the opening game stretch of the 2024-25 NBA season.
On another note, Luka Doncic has been shooting 41.2% of his three-point shot attempts and Kyrie Irving has been shooting 41.7%on those shots. Doncic and Irving’s looks are different than Thompson’s looks, so there are different standards, but Kly Thompson should strive to improve on his looks for further success.
