Everything has gone downhill for the Dallas Mavericks since they shocked fans by trading franchise icon Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis and Max Christie.
It was only a matter of time before general manager Nico Harrison’s decision came back to haunt the Mavs. Just over a month since the trade, Dallas is left with no true star power on the court. Davis hasn’t played since his Feb. 8 debut, Kyrie Irving is out for the season, and the only veteran presence keeping them afloat is former Golden State Warriors star Klay Thompson.
The Mavericks have seven players out indefinitely, including centers Daniel Gafford, Dereck Lively II, and Olivier-Maxence Prosper. But despite the injury disaster, Thompson isn’t giving up on a playoff push just yet.
Klay Thompson Chasing ‘Big Goals’ Amid Injury Woes for Dallas Mavericks
Dallas was down to just seven healthy players in its March 9 matchup against the Phoenix Suns. The following night, head coach Jason Kidd had only eight available for the team’s first win of the month—a hard-fought victory over the San Antonio Spurs.
Thompson, Naji Marshall, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Kessler Edwards all stepped up, each scoring 20-plus points to secure the 113-105 win.
Thompson, who posted 26 points, two rebounds, and three assists, remained optimistic about the Mavericks’ playoff chances. He acknowledged the impact of the injuries but emphasized controlling what they could.
“We still have big goals,” Thompson explained. “We still want to make a run. Injuries have been awful, but I still love our team.”
“We miss those guys dearly — obviously, you can tell,” he added, via Joey Mistretta. “We lack size out there. But we’re showing as much heart as we can. It’s just a pleasure to go to battle with them. Each and every person that shows up. That’s all you can control.”
The four-time NBA champion also expressed confidence in the franchise’s future.
“I still believe in this franchise,” Thompson said of Dallas. “I’d love to help them return to glory.”
The Mavs remain 10th in the Western Conference standings with a 33-33 record and are set to face the Spurs again on Wednesday.
Klay Thompson Was Devastated By Kyrie Irving’s Injury
Thompson got emotional discussing Irving’s injury after the Mavericks’ 137-107 blowout loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on March 5. The former Warriors star called it a “gut punch” for the entire basketball community.
“I haven’t been able to talk too much, but that was really a gut punch, not just for the Dallas Mavericks but for basketball fans around the globe. It’s like an unfillable void, so we gotta rally around him, gotta play hard for him. That one hurt seeing him go down, like that sucked. I know he’s gonna come back stronger, but just in the moment, it really sucks for everybody.”
Irving suffered the injury while attempting a layup in the first quarter against the Sacramento Kings. He remained on the floor for several minutes in visible pain before shooting his free throws and exiting the game. Tests confirmed an ACL tear the following day, ruling him out for the rest of the season—and perhaps a portion of next year as well.