Klay Thompson’s Strong Message After Mavericks’ Loss to Grizzlies
One of the most surprising moves of last offseason was Klay Thompson’s decision to leave the Golden State Warriors after 13 seasons and four NBA championships to join the Dallas Mavericks.
Thompson, who formed one of the league’s most iconic backcourts alongside Stephen Curry, began a new chapter in Dallas with hopes of helping the Mavericks contend in the West.
In his first season with the Mavericks, Thompson averaged 14.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.0 assists across 72 games—his lowest scoring average since his rookie campaign. He shot 41.2% from the field and 39.1% from three-point range, continuing to provide his trademark floor spacing despite a dip in production.
“Don't do this to me.” 😕
— Klay when asked if he would’ve still joined the Mavs knowing what he knows now
(h/t @ohnohedidnt24)pic.twitter.com/9kaLj4Axk7
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) April 19, 2025
Thompson’s career trajectory has seen its challenges since his return from back-to-back major injuries, and following Dallas’ season-ending loss to the Memphis Grizzlies in the play-in tournament, questions began to swirl about whether he regretted his move from Golden State.
“Don’t do this to me. Don’t do that to me. Don’t do that,” Thompson responded when asked about potential regrets. “That’s kind of a ridiculous question because I don’t own a time machine and I don’t believe in going back or looking back. If I did that my whole career, I would not be where I’m at and I wouldn’t have been able to persevere through two really hard injuries. I’m here in Dallas and I enjoyed my time and I’m looking forward to the future.”
While the Mavericks’ season didn’t go as planned, it would be unfair to place the blame on Thompson. The team made headlines midseason by trading Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis, only for Davis to suffer an injury in his debut. Things worsened when Kyrie Irving went down with a season-ending ACL tear.
Despite the adversity, Dallas fought to the final game in an effort to reach the postseason.
While their bid came up short, there remains a sense of optimism for what lies ahead.
With a healthy roster and time to build chemistry, Thompson and the Mavericks will aim to bounce back stronger in the 2025-26 season.
