Finally, after a long wait, Klay Thompson stepped onto the court wearing Dallas Mavericks gear. After 11 seasons with the Golden State Warriors, the 34-year-old star has moved to Texas.
While some fans were excited to see him play, others felt sad to see a new version of Thompson on the Mavericks that they didn’t quite like.
Thompson, who currently wears No. 31 for the Mavericks, scored ten points in the game. He was efficient from beyond the arc, hitting 3 of his 5 three-point attempts. Overall, he shot 3-for-9 from the field and added three assists in his 18 minutes of play.
Despite the Mavericks’ 107-102 loss to the Jazz, Klay Thompson’s performance was a positive sign for Dallas fans. He overcame early nerves, which he admitted were the most intense since the 2015 NBA Finals, to contribute effectively on both ends of the floor.
Thompson said, “I haven’t been that nervous, I don’t think, since the 2015 Finals Game 1. It felt so good just to go out there and play and work those jitters out. “
He continued, “It was a new experience, and it’s a natural feeling when you’ve been somewhere so long and to be somewhere new in a new environment. To finally put the uniform on, it felt amazing.”
NBA reacts to Klay Thompson’s debut match
Many fans were thrilled to see Thompson back on the court, appreciating his sharpshooting and the promise he brings to the Mavericks.
Most fans were thrilled to see Klay Thompson in his new Mavericks jersey. @_KMar7 cheered, “I’m rooting for Klay… chronically underrated.” @angryhairline added, “Surreal. It’s going to be a fun season, though.” @SpeedRaiderr praised, “No drrible shoot. Classic Klay. splash.”
However, some fans expressed concerns about Thompson’s overall performance and his ability to adapt to a new team after over a decade with the Warriors.
@realgoattalk1 commented, “Crowd was not hyped. Bro doesn’t belong there.” @aykeepitabuck tweeted, “Lucky ass shot and this is gonna take a while to get used to.”
