When Klay Thompson decided to sign with the Dallas Mavericks ahead of the 2024-25 season, it no doubt broke many hearts in the Bay Area. Regardless, Dub Nation remains forever indebted to him for his services, which include bringing the Golden State Warriors four titles.
Embarking on a new chapter in Dallas, Thompson felt he could be a perfect fit alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, who were just coming off a Finals appearance. Everything seemed on track until February 2nd, 2025, when the shocking trade of Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers shook the entire NBA.
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Finding himself in a highly volatile situation, Thompson stayed put with the Mavericks. But things only got worse, whether it was firing the highly tainted GM Nico Harrison or trading Anthony Davis, who couldn’t stay healthy.
Today, their only upside is rookie sensation Cooper Flagg. That said, there have been talks about the franchise potentially entering a rebuild, placing the future of veterans like Thompson in uncertainty. Nonetheless, the 36-year-old at least appears to be taking each day as it comes.
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Recently asked how he handled the last two seasons with the Mavs, Thompson chose to tread carefully.
“You want to win. You want to win every chance you can, especially in this league. It’s really hard to win. Although it hasn’t gone our way, it’s still awesome being out there … I love the game with all my heart,”said Klay at the blue carpet event of the Mavs Ball foundation.
While Thompson can still ball, he no longer has the same impact he did back in the day with Golden State. The back-to-back catastrophic knee injuries have a lot to do with it. Once a top two-way guard in the league, Klay is now primarily seen in the role of a reserve.
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He is currently averaging a career low in almost every stat category, be it his playing minutes, points, rebounds, assists, 3-point efficiency, etc. Not an outcome Thompson or his well-wishers imagined when he first signed with the Mavs.
But Klay has come to terms with the reality.
With the Mavs far from making the Play-In tournament, let alone the playoffs, it will be interesting to see what the future holds for Thompson.
With AD gone and Flagg the prime focus of Mavs management, one can predict that Thompson will be shipped to a new destination this summer. If Dallas is looking to undergo a complete revamp after the Doncic disaster, some tough decisions will need to be made.
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Klay still has $17 million remaining on his contract before he turns free agent in 2027. It remains to be seen how the front office handles the situation, especially with Irving in the mix. Though Thompson can still contribute in different ways, his salary could potentially pose a hurdle.
At the same time, there has been a growing narrative about fans wanting to see him return to the Bay Area for one Last Dance.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Mar 20, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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