With Kyrie Irving sidelined for the season, many assumed the Mavericks’ season was over too. It wasn’t a wild prediction though. With their star players out and the injury list growing, things looked pretty bleak. It seemed like there was no way things could turn around. But guess what? They managed to bounce back, both in terms of performance and health. And on Saturday night, Klay Thompson couldn’t hide his feelings about it.
Following the 120-119 victory against the Bulls, Klay Thompson joined the podium for the post-game press conference, where he was asked about the fuller roster. “Well, it’s just great to see 11, 12 guys on the roster right now,” he said. “I mean, that was so nice.” Klay expressed positivity about the team’s current state, stating how refreshing it was to have a full roster of 12 players– an improvement from earlier in the season when injuries had left the team shorthanded.
The franchise’s front office had plenty to worry about due to a thin roster, but hopefully, that won’t be an issue anymore. They’ve fought their way into the 9th spot in the West and are determined to solidify their position as they push for the postseason. And the 35-year-old has previously clarified that he would be there to help the team succeed. That’s what he is aiming for.
Klay then opened up about the team’s focus now that the playoffs are approaching. “So we’re just taking it one game at a time,” Klay informed the reporters. “And I know once we get whole, we have a chance to really put a great end to this season, regular season. And we still have big goals to make it the postseason. But right now we’re just trying to take it one game at a time and enjoy this run.” He is enjoying the Mavs’ current success while staying focused on the bigger picture of finishing this regular season strong and reaching the playoffs. Besides that, Klay Thompson also backed his teammate’s claim about Anthony Davis.
Klay Thompson shares his thoughts on playing with Anthony Davis
The Mavs brought Anthony Davis on board hoping he would fill the gap left by Luka Doncic’s absence. But what happened instead? AD suffered an adductor strain during his debut against the Rockets last month, leaving him sidelined. Dallas fans were already frustrated with the trade, and this setback only made them more upset. And all the hatred fell on him. That’s when Spencer Dinwiddie came to his rescue.
On the Club 520 Podcast, the Mavs guard urged people to stop criticizing the trade. He stated that, in his opinion, LeBron James is the best offensive player, while Anthony Davis is one of the best two-way players, alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo. “The only thing that sucks is they’re acting like AD is a b**, that’s the crazy part,” Dinwiddie said. “You could feel how you feel about the trade. Win, lose, better for now, better for the future, whatever it may be. We’ve got to stop acting like AD isn’t AD bro. We got to stop.”
Feb 8, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (3) and guard Klay Thompson (31) and forward P.J. Washington (25) and center Daniel Gafford (21) celebrates after Davis dunks the ball during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Houston Rockets at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Luka being the franchise player, was beloved by the fans, so this sudden change was hard for them to accept. But Anthony Davis also didn’t have any control over the business side of things. So after Dinwiddie, even Klay Thompson expressed excitement about being his teammate.
“I love being his (Davis) teammate, I love playing off him. And can’t wait to build, not just for this year, but for the future,” Klay told the media in the press conference. He also mentioned the anticipation of Kyrie’s return to the lineup, which would strengthen the team and provide the depth they need. Reflecting on their past accomplishment with Team USA, he added, “I try to remind people too, I’ve had great success with Anthony and Ky. We won a world championship together in 2014, so it’d be very nice to end our careers together, or at least my career with them, and hopefully win at a high level.”
Even though the fans haven’t started to accept AD, he has built strong connections with his teammates, who are eager to defend him. The team has shown significant improvement as well since Davis rejoined. While he hasn’t yet shown his full potential in the Mavs jersey, he still has a strong hunger for another championship. So let’s see how the season rolls for the team.
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