The Dallas Mavericks’ season opener in opposition to the San Antonio Spurs carried further weight, with all eyes fastened on Klay Thompson in his Mavs debut.
After exhibiting blended kind in preseason, anticipation constructed round his partnership with Luka Doncic.
Following Thompson’s first sport with Dallas, NBA analyst Charles Barkley shared his candid ideas concerning the former Golden State Warriors star.
“He was the best two-guard in the NBA for a span of x-amount of years. Offensively and defensively. He’s a future first-ballot Hall of Famer. Everybody likes Klay Thompson, but no player gets better with age. Let’s stop that. He got the two bad breaks with the ACL and the Achilles, and that’s the reason the Warriors wanted to move on; he’s not the same player,” Barkley mentioned, by way of NBA on TNT.
“Everybody likes Klay Thompson, but no player gets better with age” ⌛
Chuck provides his tackle the longer term corridor of famer 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/dmbMhwJ3QX
Regardless of Barkley’s skepticism about Thompson’s capability to assist the Mavericks attain consecutive NBA Finals, the veteran shooter silenced his critics on opening night time.
When his signing was introduced this offseason, skeptics prompt Naji Marshall deserved the beginning spot as an alternative, questioning Thompson’s defensive capabilities alongside Doncic and Kyrie Irving.
Thompson’s efficiency, nevertheless, informed a unique story. He confirmed coach Jason Kidd his price on robust defensive assignments, an important asset for Dallas shifting ahead.
Whereas his capturing contact stays elite, it’s his positioning and defensive dedication that has pleasantly stunned many.
If his first sport is any indication, these early considerations would possibly fade because the season unfolds.
So long as Thompson maintains this stage of two-way play, Mavericks followers have each purpose to be optimistic about their new addition.
