Klay Thompson, widely regarded as one of the greatest three-point shooters of all time, entered free agency after playing 13 seasons with the Golden State Warriors. Later in the offseason, the 34-year-old guard was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in a six-team sign-and-trade. The trade also involved the Philadelphia 76ers, Charlotte Hornets, Denver Nuggets, and Minnesota Timberwolves.
Thompson, who was part of the Splash Brothers in the Warriors, was rumored to be considering several teams before joining the Mavericks. The closest he came to signing was with the Los Angeles Lakers. Thompson’s father wanted him to join the Lakers, as it was his favorite team from childhood, but Thompson ultimately rejected the Lakers’ offer. Recently, the reason behind Thompson’s decision was revealed by the Mavericks’ minority owner.
During a recent appearance on the Club Shay Shay podcast, Mark Cuban, the former principal owner of the Mavericks, explained how they convinced Thompson to reject the Lakers’ offer and join the Mavericks. The podcast host, Shannon Sharpe, asked Cuban about his strategy before convincing Thompson, who was a fan of Kobe and the Lakers.
Cuban responded, “Credit goes to Nico, Kyrie, and J Kidd. They know him, they played with him, they understand him.”
Nico Harrison currently serves as the president of basketball operations and general manager of the Dallas Mavericks. Mark Cuban mentioned that they hired Harrison because of his strong relationship with Thompson, which facilitated their deal with the four-time NBA champion.
Cuban Reveals How Harrison, Kidd, and Irving Influenced Thompson to Close the Deal
Thompson had multiple outstanding seasons with the Warriors, contributing to the team’s four NBA championships alongside star players Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. However, his performance in crucial moments during the last NBA season created tension in his relationship with the team. Cuban explained that Thompson’s struggles at the end of the previous season played a role in persuading him to join the Mavericks.
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“They went out and spent time with him, got to know him better. And really, I think Klay was ready for a move. All the grief he got last year, particularly the way it ended [With Golden State]. The timing was right. Kudos to Klay for being willing to make the move and Kudos to Nico, J-Kidd, and Kai for making it happen.” Cuban added.
The upcoming season will start soon, and fans have high expectations for Thompson as he joins star players Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving on the Mavericks.
Also Read: Klay Thompson’s Latest Instagram Story Has Dallas Mavericks Fans Beaming with Excitement
