NBA News: Klay Thompson reveals true feelings about 2011 Mavericks champion team

As the 2024-25 NBA season approaches, one of the most notable offseason moves was the Dallas Mavericks’ acquisition of Klay Thompson. The veteran shooting guard is ready for a fresh start in Dallas and recently revealed just how much the Mavs’ 2011 championship team has inspired him.

Thompson, eager to begin this new chapter in his career, shared a post on Instagram watching a video titled “2011 Dallas Mavericks Road to the Finals.” He explained his decision to revisit that memorable season in an interview with Abby Jones of DLLS Sports.

“Just an incredible group that persevered… beat some incredibly talented teams,” Thompson said about the 2011 Mavericks. “Whether it was Kobe [Bryant], the Lakers, or KD [Kevin Durant] and the Thunder… and then Miami. It was a run that was so inspiring. It was cool to watch that, and I’m trying to replicate that in the upcoming season.”

Thompson continued, “I was like, man, this is cool. I’m going to check this out. I just got to Dallas, and I want to keep that in the back of my mind while I’m here—to uplift this city and try to win. There’s no greater feeling.”

Dirk Nowitzki holds the NBA trophy in 2011. IMAGO

Mavericks’ plans for Klay Thompson will differ from Warriors

In a recent interview, Mavs owner Mark Cuban emphasized that Dallas plans to take a different approach with Thompson than the Golden State Warriors did. Cuban noted that the team intends to reduce Thompson’s physical workload and focus on his sharpshooting skills.

“Obviously, the big addition was Klay,” Cuban said. “He’s someone you have to face guard because he’s going to make 40% of his shots. At Golden State, he was always on the move, coming off screens in their motion offense. We don’t do that as much.”

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“We’ll run some of that action for him,” Cuban added, “but mostly, he’ll be stationed in the corner or on the wings, catching and shooting from Luka [Doncic] and [Kyrie Irving]. Hopefully, life will be a lot easier for him.”

Kyrie Irving played a key role in recruiting Thompson

Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd recently revealed on NBC Sports Bay Area’s Dubs Talk podcast that Kyrie Irving played a crucial role in convincing Thompson to sign with Dallas.

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“When it came to recruitment, a lot of people were involved,” Kidd shared. “But one of the biggest factors was Kai [Irving]. Kai was able to connect with Klay, player to player, and give him a real, honest assessment of what it’s been like in Dallas over the last two years. His insight played a big part in getting Klay on board.”