The Dallas Mavericks are learning the hard way what the Golden State Warriors already knew: Klay Thompson’s glory days as an elite sharpshooter are fading fast. After watching the five-time All-Star struggle in his twilight years, the Warriors made the tough call to bench him for 14 games late in his final season with the franchise. They couldn’t promise him a starting spot anymore, so they let him walk in free agency, paving the way for his high-stakes move to Dallas on a three-year, $50 million deal in the 2024 offseason.
Fast forward to Thompson’s 80th game as a Maverick, and history is repeating itself—with a bitter twist. For the first time in Mavericks blue, the veteran was yanked from the starting lineup, a move that underscores just how disastrously this gamble has backfired. Thompson’s minutes had already been dwindling amid a sluggish start to the season, so the demotion wasn’t entirely out of left field. But for a team languishing at 2-5 and clinging to the 14th spot in the Western Conference ahead of Wednesday’s clash with the New Orleans Pelicans, it’s a glaring sign of deeper troubles.
Remember when Thompson got benched by Steve Kerr back on February 15 last year? The frustration boiled over, but he channeled it into a scorching 35-point explosion against the Utah Jazz, complete with six rebounds and a sizzling 7-of-13 from deep. It was vintage Klay—a reminder of the Splash Brother who once terrorized defenses. This time around? Not quite the fireworks. Still, facing the Pelicans, Thompson delivered one of his stronger outings in a season where he’s averaging a dismal career-low 8.1 points on 31.8% from the field and a frigid 26.2% from three.
Coming off the bench, the 35-year-old dropped 11 points—tying his season high—along with four rebounds, three assists, and a steal. More encouragingly, he rediscovered a flicker of his old stroke, hitting 4-of-7 overall and 3-of-6 from beyond the arc. It was a step in the right direction for Thompson personally, but it couldn’t salvage the night for Dallas. The Mavs fell 101-99 to a shorthanded Pelicans squad missing superstar Zion Williamson and ex-Warrior Jordan Poole, extending their early-season nightmare.
Adding salt to the wound, Thompson’s longtime Golden State championship comrade, Kevon Looney, shone in his new Pelicans threads. Starting at center, Looney notched eight points, six rebounds, two assists, and a block in just 15 minutes—his best performance yet with New Orleans.
In Thompson’s vacated starting spot? Former Warrior D’Angelo Russell stepped up, but he couldn’t capitalize. The 29-year-old managed only nine points on a woeful 3-of-10 shooting, failing to ignite the offense when Dallas needed it most.
What lies ahead for Thompson is anyone’s guess, but one thing is crystal clear: the Mavericks have bungled his integration spectacularly. Saddled with the fallout from that laughably ill-fated Luka Doncic trade and a devastating injury to Kyrie Irving, Dallas hasn’t given their prized acquisition the platform to thrive. It’s a fatal flaw the Warriors wisely dodged—one that’s now dragging the Mavs deeper into choppy waters. If this ship doesn’t right itself soon, Thompson’s Dallas chapter could end as a cautionary tale of chasing faded stars.