Klay Thompson made his debut for the Dallas Mavericks in their 107-102 preseason loss to the Utah Jazz at the American Airlines Center on Thursday. In his first game with the Mavericks, the former Warriors guard put in a strong effort on the defensive end, and it was clearly a deliberate focus.
Thompson is determined to prove his critics wrong, especially those who have questioned his ability to defend at an elite level in recent years. One of his primary goals for the upcoming season is to silence the doubters by locking down on defense.
“I still want to get rid of that notion that I’m not the same defender as I once was,” Thompson told reporters after the game.
“I truly believe I am, and I’m excited to prove people wrong that I can still guard the elite players in this league and I thought it was a good step in the right direction for me.”
Thompson’s performance against Utah was certainly a step in the right direction, as he showcased his defensive prowess throughout his 18 minutes on the court. The five-time All-Star skillfully navigated screens, absorbed hard hits and made sure Utah’s players didn’t get any easy opportunities.
Thompson finished the game with 10 points, shooting 3-of-9 from the field, including an efficient 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. While his relentless defensive effort didn’t show up in the box score, the Mavericks guard contributed three assists to round out his performance.
Klay Thompson admits to being nervous
For the first time in his illustrious NBA career, Klay Thompson suited up for a team other than the Golden State Warriors. The veteran guard openly admitted to feeling nervous before making his debut for the Dallas Mavericks, comparing the experience to the nerves he felt before the 2015 playoffs.
Despite the initial jitters, Thompson described the overall experience as nothing short of amazing.
“I was nervous for like four days. I hadn’t been that nervous I don’t think since the 2015 Finals Game 1,” said Thompson.
“It felt so good just to get out there and play and work those jitters out. It was a new experience, and it’s a natural feeling when you’ve been somewhere so long to be somewhere new, a new environment, and to finally put the uniform on, it felt amazing.”
The Mavericks have two preseason games left before Jason Kidd’s squad tips off their regular season against the San Antonio Spurs on October 24.
Next up, Dallas will face the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday, providing Klay Thompson with another chance to fine-tune his form and prepare for the regular season.
