Klay Thompson quickly acclimated to his new environment.
After dedicating his first 13 seasons to the Golden State Warriors, the four-time NBA champion joined the Mavericks during free agency.
Klay Thompson made his season debut for Dallas on Thursday, instantly impacting the game in a 120-109 victory over the Spurs (0-1).
Thompson drained six three-pointers and shot 7-of-13 from the floor, finishing with 22 points, seven rebounds, and a team-high three steals.
According to the NBA’s social media team, Thompson’s six three-pointers marked the highest total by a Mavericks player in his debut with the franchise.
This also marked Thompson’s highest number of three-pointers made in a season debut throughout his 14-year NBA career. His strong start should alleviate any concerns about how well he fits alongside Mavericks guards Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving.
Thompson’s first three-pointer came from the corner on an inbound pass from Dončić—who assisted on four of Thompson’s six triples—along the Spurs’ baseline. The five-time All-Star was notably more efficient than his All-NBA teammates, who combined for 43 points on 42 shot attempts in Dallas’ opener.
Following his performance on Thursday, Thompson has now made 2,487 career three-pointers, just 74 away from surpassing Hall of Famer Reggie Miller for the fifth-most in NBA history.
The Mavericks (1-0) won the Western Conference last season, overcoming the Timberwolves in five games during the conference finals before falling to the Celtics in the NBA Finals.
Though it’s just one game, Thompson’s impressive debut with the Mavericks bodes well for Dallas’ future.
