Klay Thompson’s Reaction to First Bench Appearance with Mavericks

Klay Thompson’s recent bench appearance marked a significant change in his role with the Dallas Mavericks. This shift occurred during a disappointing home game on Wednesday night against the New Orleans Pelicans. The Mavericks lost the contest 101-99, extending their struggles to a 2-6 record this season.

Klay Thompson’s Reaction to First Bench Appearance

Thompson, a four-time NBA champion, expressed his frustration following the game, emphasizing accountability within the team. He stated, “We’ve gotta take ownership for the product out there. We can all be better, especially myself.” This sentiment reflects the urgency he feels after the team’s challenging start.

Performance Overview

At 35 years old, Thompson averaged 8.1 points with a shooting percentage of 31.8% from the field and 26.2% from beyond the arc before this game. On Wednesday night, he came off the bench with 5:06 left in the first quarter. He quickly contributed five points in just 77 seconds, finishing with 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting, marking his best performance of the season.

Coaching Decisions and Team Dynamics

Mavericks coach Jason Kidd informed Thompson about the decision to have him come off the bench earlier that day. He told Thompson, “This isn’t a permanent thing, but can you come off the bench?” Thompson reportedly accepted this change. Kidd noted, “I thought him coming off the bench gave us a spark.”

Thompson’s Career Context

Prior to this change, Thompson had only previously not started during the 2023-24 season, where he played 77 games for the Golden State Warriors, starting 63 of them. Over his career, Thompson has started 792 out of 806 games. As he approaches his 36th birthday in February, he reflected on the challenges he has faced throughout his lengthy career, recognizing the difficulty of remaining competitive in the sport.

Looking Ahead

Despite the rough start to the season, Thompson remains optimistic. “I can be better,” he reassured fans. He believes that he is finally finding his rhythm after overcoming the slow start. “When that ball is just effortlessly flicking off your wrist, you know big things are coming.”

The Mavericks will look to improve their record with Thompson playing a vital role moving forward as they navigate through this season.