Report: Kyrie Irving, Jason Kidd Heavily Recruited Klay Thompson To Mavericks

According to NBA insider Sam Amick of The Athletic, Kyrie Irving and Jason Kidd heavily recruited Klay Thompson to the Dallas Mavericks. 

Thompson is headed to the Mavericks on a three-year, $50 million deal via sign-and-trade.

“Thompson had talked on the phone and texted routinely with Irving, his old rival from those Warriors-Cavs finals matchups of yesteryear and an expert if ever there was one on the topic of rectifying a career amid a dimmer spotlight in Dallas,” Amick wrote. “He had talked on the phone with Mavs coach Jason Kidd, the Hall of Famer who won a title with the Mavericks in 2011 and who offered to cut his family vacation short to make the recruiting meeting.”

The Los Angeles Lakers were extremely intriguing to Thompson, but the financial savings from living in Texas over California and the fact that the Mavericks came within three victories of an NBA championship were big factors in Thompson’s decision, according to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. 

Thompson averaged 17.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.5 blocks in 2023-24 for the Golden State Warriors while shooting 43.2% from the field, 38.7% from beyond the arc and 92.7% from the free-throw line.

The Warriors drafted Thompson with the 11th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft out of Washington State. Thompson made five All-Star teams, two All-NBA teams and one All-Defensive team with the Warriors. He helped the franchise win four championships.

Thompson has career averages of 19.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.5 blocks. He turns 35 next season.

“League sources say a Lakers deal would have been far more lucrative, with discussions about a four-year, $80 million deal for Thompson if they had been able to convince the Warriors to cooperate in a sign-and-trade that would have sent D’Angelo Russell back to the Warriors (or to a third team),” Amick wrote. “He had phone conversations with LeBron James and new Lakers coach JJ Redick that were all positive, league sources say, with Lakers president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka staying in touch with Lawrence, but the allure of the Lakers situation simply didn’t match what the Mavericks had to offer.”