The Dallas Mavericks’ interest in Klay Thompson didn’t begin in free agency. In April, after the Golden State Warriors were blown out by the Sacramento Kings in a Play-In game as Thompson went 0-6 from 3, The Athletic’s Sam Amick reported that the Mavs were “worth watching as a possible suitor.” However, as Thompson was also linked to the Los Angeles Lakers, there was no guarantee he would leave the Warriors for them.
More Details Emerge About Mavs Recruitment Of Klay Thompson
The Lakers are a legitimate championship contender so long as LeBron James is playing at a high level. They’re the franchise his father won two NBA championships with. They’re also conveniently located in the state where Thompson had spent his entire life.
Yes, the Mavs had just made their way to the NBA Finals. However, Thompson’s a guy who wears his emotions. The sentimentality of signing with the Lakers may have made it a great experience for him.
To the surprise of many, Thompson chose to sign with Dallas. Perhaps a guaranteed starting spot was a factor in his decision. To that point, Thompson being benched by the Warriors was a contentious issue last season. The Athletic’s Shams Charania reports that Thompson believes that the Mavs give him a better chance of winning another ring.
“Klay Thompson had a larger offer on the table from the Lakers..
He believed the Dallas Mavericks were his best opportunity to win another championship”@ShamsCharania #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/YLbNIo1uvF
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) July 15, 2024
Yet, it appears that his respect for Kyrie Irving was another major factor.
“I covered the 2016 Olympics and the 2014 World Cup where they were teammates, and you could tell then that Klay had a real admiration for Kyrie,” NBA insider Marc Stein tells Kevin Gray Jr. of the DLLS Mavs Podcast.
Jason Kidd on Kyrie recruiting Klay Thompson to the Mavericks:
“One of the biggest players in that was [Kyrie]… Kai being able to, player to player, detail his experience of what Dallas has been like for him in two years” pic.twitter.com/CPI7wiyOaN
— Kyrie Center (@kyriecenterig) August 23, 2024
“There is no question, Kyrie Irving is one of the players and peers that Klay Thompson really, really, really respects… That was a huge factor for the Mavs,” Steins adds. “Because it’s always great when players can be the advocate for your free agency push.”
“It’s one thing Nico Harrison, Jason Kidd, Michael Finley to make the pitch. When a peer pitches you, it just resonates more strongly many more times than not…”
As They Say, Players Talk
Stein’s report corroborates Mavs head coach Jason Kidd’s comments about how the recruitment process went.
“Just being honest, when you talk about the recruitment, it was a lot of people involved in that,” Kidd tells NBC Sports Authentic. “But I think one of the biggest players in that was Kai. Kai being able to —player to player —give his experience of what Dallas has been like for him in two years and being able to tell Klay the honest truth about what he thinks can happen with Klay coming to Dallas…”
Mavs Jason Kidd on how Kyrie Irving helped recruit Klay Thompson:
“Kai being able to, player to player, detail his experience of what Dallas has been like for him in two years and being able to tell Klay the honest truth of what he thinks can happen with Klay coming to Dallas.”… pic.twitter.com/cD9QfpaIkS
— Kevin Gray Jr. (@KevinGraySports) August 22, 2024
“In this league, they all talk about their situations and they all recruit one another,” he relays.
