Klay Thompson Struggles in Preseason with Mavericks

Dallas, Texas — Klay Thompson‘s exit from the Golden State Warriors has not gone as planned. The veteran guard, who spent over a decade with the Warriors, joined the Dallas Mavericks after unsuccessful extension talks last year. This decision is looking increasingly justified based on Thompson’s performance in the preseason.

Once recognized as one of the NBA’s elite perimeter defenders, Thompson’s skills have faltered after suffering two major leg injuries. While he played a vital role in the Warriors’ 2022 championship season, his recent performance raises questions about his ability to defend at a high level.

ESPN’s Tim MacMahon expressed concerns regarding Thompson’s effectiveness alongside D'Angelo Russell, another former Warrior. “I saw Klay Thompson try to defend LaMelo Ball. That didn’t go very well. I have some concerns about this stage of his career,” MacMahon noted on The Hoop Collective.

Thompson’s defensive ratings have been among the worst in his career over the last two years. He has become primarily a shooter, a change that led to his benching during his final season with Golden State. The Warriors opted to invest in the more versatile Brandin Podziemski, allowing Thompson to explore free agency.

This shift was also prompted by Thompson’s declining shooting statistics. Last season, he recorded a career-low shooting percentage of 41.2% while playing for the Mavericks. The preseason has been challenging as well, with Thompson shooting just 33.3% from both the field and three-point range across three games.

Although Golden State has not fully secured the shooting guard position since Thompson’s departure, Podziemski has emerged as a significant contributor. He scored 23 points, grabbed five rebounds, and delivered eight assists in a recent preseason game against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Klay Thompson is undoubtedly one of the greatest players in Warriors history, but from a basketball perspective, the franchise’s decision to move on appears to have been the right one.