DALLAS — Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson told streamer PlaqueBoyMax that he wants to compete for an NBA championship.
Thompson’s comments come amid rumors that the Mavericks are open to trading the future Hall of Famer before next season starts.
Thompson will make $17.5 million next season in the final year of his contract. He doesn’t have a no-trade clause. The five-time All-Star and four-time NBA champion appeared in 69 games for the Mavericks last season. He averaged 11.7 points per contest while shooting 39.3% from the field, 38.3% from beyond the arc and 76.6% from the free-throw line.
Trade Rumors Continue To Surround Klay Thompson
A Washington State product, Thompson is better suited to play for a contender at this stage of his career. He’s been linked to the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers in trade rumors.
After spending the first 11 years of his career with the Golden State Warriors, Thompson signed with the Mavericks in the summer of 2024 to play with stars Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving. Thompson’s time with Dončić was short-lived, as Dallas traded Dončić to the Lakers in February 2025 in what is considered the worst trade in NBA history.
The Mavericks missed the playoffs in 2025 and 2026. However, they have a young building block in Cooper Flagg. The Duke product won the 2025-26 Rookie of the Year award. He finished the season averaging 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.
Cooper Flagg, Kyrie Irving Headline Dallas Mavericks’ Vision
Flagg and Irving will make their debut as a duo next season. Irving missed last season recovering from his left ACL tear. The 2016 NBA champion with the Cleveland Cavaliers has fully recovered from the injury.
The 36-year-old Thompson holds career averages of 18.6 points per game in the regular season and 19.2 points per game in the playoffs. He helped the Warriors win championships in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022.
Thompson is averaging 12.9 points per game in a Dallas uniform. He has started 80 out of the 141 games he’s played in with the Mavericks, who hired former University of Michigan head coach Dusty May as their new coach this offseason after parting ways with Jason Kidd.
It will be fascinating to see where Thompson is playing on opening night of next season. The Mavericks would rather trade Thompson than buy him out so they can get value in return for the legendary shooting guard.
Thompson enters next season with 2,899 made 3-pointers. He’s fourth in NBA history in made 3s, trailing only Stephen Curry, James Harden and Ray Allen.
