Klay Thompson Responds to Being Benched by Mavericks
Dallas Mavericks shooting guard Klay Thompson came off the bench for the first time since joining the team on Wednesday night, as Dallas fell to the New Orleans Pelicans 101–99.
The veteran guard said he accepted the decision positively and remained optimistic about the team's future performance.
"I don't mind," he told The Dallas Morning News. "I know it is."
Head coach Jason Kidd noted that the move worked well for the team dynamic.
"I thought him coming off the bench gave us a spark," Kidd said.
Kidd explained that he had discussed the lineup change with Thompson earlier that day. With D'Angelo Russell starting at point guard and rookie Cooper Flagg moving to small forward, Thompson was asked to fill a reserve role.
"This isn't a permanent thing, but can you come off the bench? And he was good with it," Kidd recalled.
Now 35 and turning 36 in February, Thompson is averaging 8.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, and shooting 29.2% from beyond the arc this season. He has started in 821 of his 873 career NBA games.
Author’s Summary
Klay Thompson accepted his bench role with professionalism and optimism, emphasizing teamwork as he transitions into a new phase with the Dallas Mavericks.