Following the Dallas Mavericks’ season-ending loss to the Memphis Grizzlies in the Play-In Tournament, Thompson was asked if he regretted his decision to leave the Golden State Warriors and sign with the Mavericks last summer. The question struck a nerve.
“Don’t do this to me. Don’t do that to me. Don’t do that. That’s kind of a ridiculous question because I don’t own a time machine & I don’t believe in going back or looking back.”
“If I did that my whole career, I would not be where I’m at & I wouldn’t have been able to persevere through two really hard injuries. I’m here in Dallas & I enjoyed my time & I’m looking forward to the future.”
For the five-time All-Star, the 2024–25 season was anything but ideal. He arrived in Dallas hoping to chase his fifth championship ring alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
The Mavericks were coming off an NBA Finals appearance, brimming with momentum and title expectations. But the season took a dramatic and unexpected turn in February when the front office traded Doncic to the Lakers in a blockbuster move for Anthony Davis.
That trade, along with Kyrie Irving’s torn ACL shortly after, derailed Dallas’ season. Injuries to Dereck Lively II, Jaden Hardy, Dante Exum, and others only deepened the chaos. By the time the Mavericks limped into the Play-In Tournament, they were a shell of the contender Thompson signed up for.
For Thompson personally, it was also a challenging year. His 14.0 points per game marked his lowest scoring average since his rookie season.
He shot 41.2% from the field and 39.1% from beyond the arc in 27.3 minutes per game, the second-lowest average minutes of his career. It was a far cry from the consistent sharpshooter fans had come to expect over 13 seasons with the Warriors.
In Friday’s 120–106 loss to Memphis, Thompson scored 18 points on 7-of-15 shooting. He played a solid game, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Dallas from crashing out early. Anthony Davis dropped 40 in a heroic effort, but with no Kyrie by his side, the Mavs simply didn’t have enough firepower to match the Grizzlies.
Still, Thompson wasn’t in the mood for second-guessing. Despite the turbulent ride, he stood firm in his belief that looking forward, not backward, is what defines his career.
The veteran guard also mentioned how the team bonded over the summer in California minicamps and hinted at running it back this offseason.
Whether the Mavericks front office makes changes or doubles down on the current core, Thompson sounds committed to seeing things through in Dallas. He may have left the comfort of Golden State for a leap of faith, but for now, he’s still betting on the future—and himself.
