Mavs’ Klay Thompson hopes to end his career like Tom Brady

Klay Thompson begins his new journey with the Dallas Mavericks. After spending 13 years with the Golden State Warriors, Thompson told ESPN’s Tim McMahon that he felt it was “necessary” to finish his career elsewhere, drawing inspiration from Tom Brady, Shaquille O’Neal and Scottie Pippen , who had left their main team and still had success elsewhere.

Pippen choosing the Trail Blazers in 1999 at age 34, the same age Klay Thompson is now, was something Thompson called “the best day of my life.” That was so amazing.” Klay’s father, Mychael, played for the Blazers for the first part of his career, so Klay was rooting for them from a young age.

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But it was Brady and Shaq who really inspired Thompson’s move to the Dallas Mavericks. “It’s me “I’m grateful for everything I experienced at Golden State,” Thompson told ESPN’s Tim McMahon. “But I’ve seen some of my favorite athletes transform and achieve tremendous success.” When I think of Shaq[uille O’Neal] Leaving the Lakers and winning a ring or Tom Brady winning one with Tampa Bay has happened before. That was my main goal at this point in my career. I just want to win and this team is so close. I just wanted to be a part of it when July 1st came [free agency]. It is human nature to think about our future. As present as you should be, we are all human. We all think about that. Knowing now that I’m going to be locked up here for a few years gives me the opportunity to be free.

Thompson chose less money and fewer years to move to the Mavericks over the Lakers, largely because he believes Dallas is closer to winning a championship and that he could be the missing piece to take them over to bring mountain. The Mavs reached the NBA Finals last season before losing to the Boston Celtics in five games, due in large part to their lack of perimeter shooting. Thompson is one of the greatest shooters in NBA history and on paper he’s a great fit.

The Mavericks are just 5-5, and Thompson has had his ups and downs, as Jason Kidd expected he and the other newcomers would have. He had 22 points in the first game against the San Antonio Spurs, but has settled to under 14 PPG and has made just two of his last 13 three-point attempts.

Tuesday night is an opportunity to show why the Warriors should have prioritized him in recent years instead of relegating him to the bench. They got off to a good start and were 8-2 entering the game, but Thompson wants to show the NBA world that he made the right decision.

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