Klay Thompson had an impressive debut with the Dallas Mavericks, chatting with former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo during a break in the fourth quarter. Shortly after, Thompson demonstrated his sharpshooting skills by making a wide-open 3-pointer, marking a strong performance in his first game with the Mavericks.
Playing alongside superstars Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving for the first time, Thompson set a franchise record by sinking six 3-pointers and scoring a total of 22 points in the Mavericks’ 120-109 win over the San Antonio Spurs.
Thompson expressed his initial nerves, stating, “The feelings were a lot of nerves, anxiousness, for a few minutes, then you see one go through and you feel great.” He acknowledged the significance of the game, saying, “Great debut. It’s only one game in October, but it feels good to get the first one out of the way.”
In contrast to his last game with the Golden State Warriors, where he failed to make a shot, Thompson began his Dallas career by making his first two attempts, both from inside the arc. After a rough start where he missed four consecutive shots, Thompson exploded in the second half, scoring 14 points and hitting four of his five 3-point attempts.
The Mavericks shot 13 of 21 from beyond the arc in the second half after struggling in the first half, where they made just 6 of 23. Thompson’s performance included seven rebounds and three steals. His three-pointer, following his conversation with Romo, contributed to a 16-3 run that put the Mavericks ahead by 20 points.
Thompson mentioned that taking a moment to dribble before shooting is something he has occasionally done throughout his career, explaining, “When you’re getting ready to shoot the ball and you’re that wide open, sometimes you overthink it.”
He concluded the game with a shooting line of 7 of 13 and 6 of 10 from three-point range. Meanwhile, Doncic delivered an outstanding performance with 28 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists. Doncic praised Thompson’s presence on the court, saying, “It makes your life and Kai’s easier, it makes the whole team’s life easier. It’s a lot of space. It’s great.”