Mavericks GM Stands By Klay Thompson After He Scores 10 Points In Three Preseason Games

Nico Harrison says Klay Thompson was "the missing piece."

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Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Mavericks star Klay Thompson went scoreless in Monday night’s pre-season game against the Clippers. But in a chat with SiriusXM NBA Radio, franchise GM Nico Harrison defended Thompson and doubled down on his commitment to the 4x champion.

“Honestly, after the Finals, we felt that we were close,” said Harrison. “Well, we knew we were close, and, I kind of say this—it has a good ring to it—but we were a Klay away. And we feel like he’s the guy that can take us over the top.”

Nico Harrison was celebrating with joy after signing Klay Thompson to a three-year, $50 million contract this summer. The idea was that his shooting coupled with the scoring of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving would overwhelm their opponents and put the Mavericks back in position to make another Finals run. So far, however, the early signs have not been good. 

The statement comes after Thompson was held to 0 points on 0-9 shooting, contributing to an ugly loss for the defending Western Conference champions. It was Klay’s second time without a single field goal in the past three games. Since the pre-season began earlier this month, Klay has only made 3 out of his last 28 attempts and the Mavericks have lost all three games to remain winless so far.

It’s still too early to make any conclusions on this season for the Dallas Mavericks but it’s not a great sign that Klay is struggling so hard with his shot given how much they need him to provide that extra spark offensively.

At one point, Thompson was the second-best shooter in the world behind Stephen Curry, and his marksmanship from the outside helped secure four championships from 2015 to 2022. In his prime, Klay averaged 22.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game on 47.0% shooting.

But after tearing his Achilles in 2019, then tearing his ACL, Thompson was never the same and his game has been in a gradual decline ever since. Last season was a low point for Thompson as he struggled to meet his standards on the court, and his relationship with teammates and coaches began to slip.

By the end of the season, Klay was ready to leave and never look back and that’s exactly what he did. With the Mavericks, alongside two veteran superstars, Klay is hoping to make a difference and make himself useful where it counts.

After making the Finals in June and making a strong push for the title, the Mavericks have reason to believe that they can go all the way with their current group. Given Klay Thompson’s experience and championship experience, GM Nico Harrison thought it would be a no-brainer to bring him in and enhance the rotation.

Sadly, the opening slate of pre-season games suggests that things may not go so smoothly for the new-look Mavericks. Thompson, now 34, is showing signs that he’s not what he used to be and if he can’t come back to All-Star in some fashion it could set the Mavericks back years in their quest to win a title.

So far, the Mavericks are holding the line and they refuse to lose faith in their newest star champion. But if his play does not improve, and the team starts to rack up losses, it won’t be long before the pressure starts to build. It’ll be up to Klay to answer the critics and rise to the occasion for a team that sacrificed so much to bring him in.

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Nico Martinez is a veteran staff writer for Fadeaway World from Brooklyn, New York. He joined Fadeaway World in 2016 and is currently residing in Columbia, South Carolina. Nico holds a degree in Sports Management from Columbia International University where he built a strong foundation in the inner workings of sports media and management. Nico's contributions have significantly enhanced the credibility and depth of Fadeaway World's content, earning him recognition across the sports journalism community. His work has been discussed in prestigious publications like Sports Illustrated. A dedicated follower of LeBron James, Nico often leads coverage on news related to the basketball star. With nearly a decade of experience in sports journalism, Nico consistently provides comprehensive and timely basketball news, engaging a wide audience of basketball enthusiasts.Nico's most desired player to interview, past or present, is Kevin Durant. He is particularly keen on asking Durant if he has any regrets about his career, especially concerning his departure from the Oklahoma City Thunder, and why he engages so much with fans on social media. 
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