Dallas Mavericks Shooting Guard Klay Thompson has been a hot topic as of late, but not really for the right reasons. Thompson, 34, is a former Golden State Warriors star who was one-half of the “Splash Brothers” duo. Thompson is widely regarded as one of the best three-point shooters of all time. However, Thompson’s start with the Mavericks isn’t ideal in some, if not most, individuals’ minds, as the team’s record without Thompson shows that they became a top NBA team without him.
Recently, an anonymous NBA executive told ESPN’s Brian Windhorst that Thompson had been an awkward fit with the Mavericks and added that Small Forward Derrick Jones Jr. shot the ball better and played better defense for the Mavericks last year. Jones Jr., 27, currently plays for the Los Angeles Clippers. Jones Jr.’s stats are 10.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game while shooting 49.7% from the field and 41.7% from the three-point range this season. Read on for further details surrounding Thompson’s less-than-ideal start.
Anonymous NBA Executive’s Words To ESPN
Not every NBA executive thinks the Dallas Mavericks’ offseason acquisition of Klay Thompson was a good or great decision. In a recent interview with ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, an anonymous NBA executive for an Eastern Conference team said, “Klay [Thompson] has been an awkward fit so far … Derrick Jones [Jr.] shot the ball better and played better D [defense] for them last year.”
This NBA executive’s recent statement to Windhorst, 46, was a fair assessment, but subjective. Thompson is a veteran sharpshooter who suffered several nagging injuries, especially in his final few years with the Golden State Warriors. Thompson’s torn ACL in 2019 and Achilles in 2020, along with his reported tension with the Warriors, haven’t helped his cause. Thompson will likely return to the court soon, but he might not stay healthy.
Klay Thompson’s Stats So Far This Season
So far this season, Klay Thompson has averaged 12.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game, while shooting 38.1% from the field and 35.3% from the three-point line. Thompson’s averages for the Dallas Mavericks this season are slightly less than his career averages of 19.4 points, 2.3 assists, and 3.5 assists per game while shooting 45.2% from the field and 41.2% from the three-point range.
Thompson’s current averages are less than those of Jones Jr., who was the better defender in the 2023-24 NBA season, but his shooting was less than Thompson’s, as he shot 34.3% from the three-point range and shot just 25.0% from deep in the 2024 NBA Finals between the Mavericks and Boston Celtics. Jones Jr.’s shooting slump significantly fell in the Finals after 37.0% in the previous NBA playoff series.
A Comparison To Thompson
Klay Thompson has played professional basketball since 2011, while Jones Jr. has been a young, up-and-coming player in the NBA since 2016. Jones Jr. is seven years younger than Thompson, so it’s unclear what his future as a pro basketball player will look like. So far this season, Jones Jr.’s shooting has skyrocketed to 41.7% with the Los Angeles Clippers as opposed to the Dallas Mavericks.
Jones Jr.’s shooting could match or surpass Thompson’s current shooting. However, it’s important to note that Thompson is still acclimating to the Mavericks and Dallas, Texas. The Mavericks reportedly remain confident that Thompson will be a valuable piece to their team, as he has started in every game he has been available, despite not always being on the floor in the final minutes of the games.
As Mavericks Head Coach Jason Kidd figures out how to utilize Thompson, we’ll pay attention to Thompson’s left foot plantar fasciitis recovery and subsequent return to the court. In the meantime, Dallas is in the middle of a three-game road trip with its next game against the Toronto Raptors on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Eastern. Dallas seemed to work hard in a Friday practice in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
