As the Dallas Mavericks prepare for a win-or-go-home matchup against the Sacramento Kings, veteran guard Klay Thompson offered a candid assessment of his debut campaign in Texas.
Speaking to reporters ahead of Wednesday’s play-in game, Thompson called the single-elimination format “a makeup” for never playing in the NCAA Tournament, adding, “I’m looking forward to going to Sacramento and having a great experience with my guys.”
The Mavericks finished the regular season 39-43, securing the 10th seed in the Western Conference and setting up a fourth meeting with Sacramento, who claimed the 9th seed at 40-42.
Thompson, acquired last summer in a historic six-team sign-and-trade, played 72 games in his first season with Dallas.
Asked to grade his performance, Thompson gave himself a “B,” citing his three-point shooting and availability as points of pride.
“I thought I shot the ball decent—nearly 40% from three—but I’m really grateful to play in 72 games and be a consistent presence in the lineup,” he said.
The 35-year-old averaged 14 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2 assists across 27.3 minutes per contest—his lowest scoring output since his rookie season.
Thompson emphasized that staying healthy was not his main objective, but a significant personal milestone given his injury history.
“The main goal was to go back to the Finals—and [that’s] still alive,” he said.
The Mavericks will need to win two road games in the play-in to reach the playoffs, starting with Sacramento, a team Thompson knows well from his Warriors tenure.
“All three games came down to the wire,” Thompson said of Dallas’ regular-season meetings with the Kings. “They have great scorers, versatile players… for us, it’s just about sticking to the game plan.”
The Kings swept the Mavericks in the regular season 3-0.
