Klay Thompson Reflects on His Journey and Legacy

DALLAS – Klay Thompson was in his fourth season in the NBA when the Golden State Warriors reached the 2015 NBA Finals. After winning 67 regular-season games, the Warriors triumphed over the Cleveland Cavaliers in a six-game series, marking the first of their four championships in just eight years.

During this impressive run, a young boy named Cooper Flagg in Newport, Maine, was captivated by the Warriors’ style of play, especially their ball movement and three-point shooting.

“He mentioned to me that he was just 9 years old while watching the 2015 Finals,” Thompson said. After the Mavericks unexpectedly secured the NBA draft lottery in May, he is now teammates with Flagg. “That really puts things in perspective. It’s an honor to still be competing at such a high level.”

Thompson finds himself in a different phase of his career now. Since early November, he has been coming off the bench for a Mavericks team that seems bound for the lottery yet again. However, at 35, the shooting guard still demonstrates his ability to dominate from beyond the arc and continues to break records.

On Thursday, during a 144-122 victory against the Utah Jazz, Thompson sank six three-pointers, surpassing Damian Lillard for fourth place in the NBA’s all-time three-point list. He followed this performance with another six three-pointers in a subsequent victory against the Jazz and added four more in a win over the New York Knicks.

With a total of 2,819 three-pointers made, Thompson now trails only his former teammate Stephen Curry (4,201), LA Clippers guard James Harden (3,293), and Hall of Famer Ray Allen (2,973).

“I wouldn’t be here without Reggie Miller and Ray Allen,” Thompson remarked. “I grew up watching them closely, admiring their off-ball movement and their clutch performances. They set the standard for shooting guards. Being on a list with them is surreal; I was truly inspired by their games.”