Klay Thompson has plenty to prove as he starts the 2024-25 season with the Dallas Mavericks.
The sharpshooter and NBA champion’s departure from the only NBA team he’s ever known was a tough divorce on all sides. No one thought Thompson would leave the franchise after winning four Larry O’Brien championships in a dynastic run that rivals the dominance the Bulls, Lakers, and Celtics displayed in the last four decades.
He has to prove to everyone that he can still make a solid impact on a contender despite the many injuries he sustained over the past five years. Since he’s playing behind another outstanding duo in Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, he doesn’t have to overexert himself to get the open looks he needs to get into rhythm.
However, more challenges are ahead for him as a trusted name in sports journalism gave him a harsh ranking among the top players in the league.
Dallas Mavericks’ Klay Thompson ranks 71 in ESPN’s Top 100 NBA Players list
ESPN released a list of the NBA’s top 100 players to identify which athletes will likely take over for their respective teams when the game is down to the final possession.
While it’s understandable that Thompson won’t make the Top 30, some Mavs fans may find it surprising to see him listed at 71, 30 ranks down from his position last season. Tim MacMahon explained the logic behind the ranking:
Thompson slipped 30 spots after averaging just 17.9 points per game and shooting 38.7% from 3-point range last season in what ended up being the Splash Brother’s swan song with the Warriors. As the 34-year-old future Hall of Famer said after joining the Mavs in free agency, Thompson firmly believes he has “a lot of great basketball left” and is eager to prove it while playing for a contender in Dallas. The Mavs hope Thompson’s title experience and 3-point shooting are the missing elements needed for them to take the final steps to a championship.
It’s a long season, and Thompson has plenty of opportunities to shut the doubters. To do that, he needs to hit the ground running when the Mavs face the San Antonio Spurs in their season opener.
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