After spending 13 years with one team, Klay Thompson will take some time to adjust to the new Dallas Mavericks offense.
The former Warriors guard is adjusting to his new team after signing a three-year, $50 million contract with Dallas this offseason, and speaking to reporters at Mavericks media day on Monday, Thompson was asked what he envisions will be the biggest adjustments for him throughout training camp and early in the season. 2024-25 NBA season.
“I think from an X and O standpoint I have to fit in with these good creators,” Thompson said. “At Golden State, the offense was based on movement. Just being able to play with Luka [Dončić] In the last few days, his ability in the pick-and-roll is probably the best I’ve ever seen. It’ll be fun to play with him in those sets because he draws a lot of attention and gets a lot of open looks from the perimeter, so I’ll be there to knock them down.
“I think it’s just going to take a few weeks to get used to this new system but fortunately, opening night doesn’t start until the 22nd, I think, so this pre-season might be the most important for me in many years… I know I’m an amateur.” I can adapt accordingly and I look forward to doing so.”
Thompson, who averaged more possessions (5.6) and points (6.2) off screens per game during the 2023-24 season than the entire Mavericks team combined (3.6 possessions, 3.2 points), provides Dallas with a unique offensive weapon, but he knows he’ll make it. He will have to adapt to the system in place, which runs through Dončić and up until Thompson’s arrival, he has shown fewer elements of the scheme that he has succeeded in over the years.
“It’s exciting. It adds a whole new dimension to our team being able to have a player like me who can draw up the defense just by cutting off the lane or using an off-ball screen, setting up and taking two defenders with me,” Thompson added. “But I know I’ll have to adapt to Luka.” “Luka is the system, he’s the favorite for the MVP award, and that’s a big reason why I came here, to help relieve some of the pressure that he deals with on the night, and the defenses that he plays,” he said.
A four-time NBA champion, five-time All-Star and two-time NBA MVP, Thompson has seen it all throughout his Hall of Fame career, and should have no problems adjusting to his new system.
And he’ll have plenty of time to do that before facing the Warriors for the first time on Nov. 12 at Chase Center.
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