Advertisement
This is member-exclusive content
icon/ui/info filled

sportsMavericks

What Dirk Nowitzki, Klay Thompson said of the Mavs’ chances for another deep playoff run

Klay Thompson, J.J. Barea and Steve Nash were some of the notable names at the NBA Hall-of-Famer’s event in North Dallas.

With the season getting underway next month, the Dallas Mavericks were on everyone’s mind at The Dirk Nowitzki Foundation Tennis Classic Saturday in North Dallas.

The city’s NBA franchise was well represented with summer signing Klay Thompson and former players Steve Nash and J.J. Barea, among the guests to join Dirk Nowitzki for the event.

Nowitzki was hopeful when asked about the upcoming season for the Mavs, especially highlighting the addition of Thompson after a long and successful the Golden State Warriors.

“I think we addressed some depth issues on the wing,” Nowitzki said. “Adding Klay, it should bring Luka and Kyrie a lot of freedom moving around the ball so I think they have a pretty deep team ... if they stay healthy, they can make a long run again.”

Mavericks

Be the smartest Mavericks fan. Get the latest news.

Or with:

The Hall of Fame big man was complementary of center Dereck Lively II, who is entering his second season in the NBA.

“He reminds me so much of Tyson [Chandler] early on,” Nowitzki said. “He loves being vocal, he loves defense ... and he’s still so young, the sky’s the limit.”

Advertisement

Thompson was asked about a recent Instagram story where he revealed he was watching highlights of the 2011 Mavericks that won the team’s only title.

“I saw an incredible group that persevered through a low seed and beat some incredibly talented teams,” Thompson said. “It was just a run that was so inspiring so it was cool to watch and hopefully try to replicate that in the upcoming season.”

Advertisement

Thompson also talked about his early interactions with Mavs fans in the city.

“It’s been really cool, just going around town and meeting random people who are telling me how excited they are for the upcoming season and how grateful they are that I’m here,” Thompson said. “It motivates me and to see just how excited everyone is for Mavs basketball, it makes me go that much harder when I do get in the gym.”

He put that in the context of moving to a new team after 11 seasons and four titles with the Golden State Warriors.

“I’m excited for a whole new chapter of my career that has a chance to be so special,” he added. “The team was so close last year, three wins away from a chip. I know we have the ingredients for it, we just gotta stay together and build week by week. I know we can do something special.”

Former Mavs point guard J.J. Barea was a part of the championship team 13 years ago and he commented on watching the current squad put together a run last season.

“They’re close and they’re only getting better,” Barea said about the current Mavericks team.

Barea was also complimentary of adding Thompson to the roster after falling short in the NBA Finals.

Advertisement

“He’s a different player,” Barea said. “He’s a smart, confident player and a vet. He’s been there, he’s done it and he knows what needs to be done to win. I think that’s going to help the team a lot.”

Related Stories
View More

Find more Mavericks coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.