Klay Thompson’s rocky Mavericks start: slump headlines Pacers win as veteran searches for rhythm

Bassyonni

ago 3 hours

Klay Thompson

Klay Thompson is three games into a new NBA season and still looking for the familiar snap in his jumper. In Dallas’ midweek win over the Pacers, the 35-year-old guard finished with 5 points on 2-of-10 shooting (1-of-6 from three) in ~20 minutes, the second straight outing in which his efficiency lagged behind the rest of the Mavericks’ attack. The performance underscored an early theme: Dallas can win with defense, size and depth while Thompson works back to form—but the ceiling rises only when his spacing threat returns.

Snapshot: Klay Thompson stats, early 2025–26

Season to date (through Wednesday): ~9.0 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 1.5 APG, 34% FG
Role: Second-unit wing/guard, spot starter insurance
Minutes: ~20 per game
Shot mix: High share of catch-and-shoot threes; limited rim attempts; midrange used as a counter

Those topline numbers don’t define a season, but they do frame the opening week. Thompson’s touches have been mostly second-side—designed to punish help sent at the interior core—yet the release hasn’t been automatic.

Context from the first wins: Raptors surge vs. Pacers grind

Raptors game (Sun): 10 points in 20 minutes (4-of-7 FG, 2-of-4 3PT)—a clean, low-usage contribution as Dallas erupted after halftime. The ball found him in rhythm, and his gravity opened elbow actions for the bigs.
Pacers game (Wed): Shot quality dipped with more late-clock looks. Dallas still controlled the glass and paint, but Thompson’s early attempts rimmed out, and the staff shortened his stint in favor of hotter hands.

The split shows how shot diet matters for him now: quick, stand-still threes off inside-out play boost both efficiency and lineup spacing; off-dribble step-backs and contested pull-ups add variance the Mavericks don’t need when the frontcourt is humming.

What the film says about the slump

Feet before hands. A few misses are traceable to hurried footwork—opening the hips on corner attempts and drifting on above-the-break looks. Even slight sway robs power and shortens the release window.
Contact aversion at the rim. Drives are purposeful but brief; he’s opting for floaters instead of finishing through contact, keeping free-throw trips scarce and lowering his floor on cold shooting nights.
Screen timing. When he sprints off pin-downs early in the clock, defenders trail and the shot is clean; when the action comes late, teams top-lock and force him into tougher catches.

These are tunable issues—mechanics, timing, and play call sequencing—rather than signs that looks won’t be there.

How Dallas can help unlock Klay—fast

Early-clock threes. Call an ATO or first-action floppy to get him a guaranteed catch-and-shoot each half. One clean make often resets his rhythm.
Ghost screens with big gravity. Pair him with a rolling big; the slip forces a soft switch and creates a pocket for the quick trigger.
Stagger with a pure table-setter. Minutes alongside a pass-first guard lift his diet of “on-time, on-target” passes versus bailout heaves.
Hit the nail, hit the rim. One designed cut per stint—backdoor or 45-cut—adds a layup or foul and changes the mental math on the next three.

Why patience is still the smart bet

Even with the cool start, Thompson still bends defenses by reputation; weak-side tags arrive a half-step earlier when he’s spaced, opening rolls and slips for teammates. Historically, his October/early-November splits trail his post-All-Star numbers, and shooters of his caliber often normalize over 10–15 games once the legs catch up to game speed. Dallas doesn’t need vintage volume; it needs trustworthy 3-and-movement minutes that force honest closeouts.

What to watch over the next two weeks

Catch-and-shoot 3P% vs. pull-up 3P%. If the former climbs toward the high-30s, the slump abates quickly.
Free throws per 36. Even a modest bump signals more downhill intent.
Defensive possessions on bigger wings. He’s held up positionally; if he continues to body up without fouling, the staff can keep him on the floor while the shot returns.
Minute elasticity. Expect the rotation to stay fluid—shorter if the touch isn’t there, longer if early looks drop.

The Mavericks have banked wins while Klay Thompson finds his legs. The pathway back is clear: simplify the shot diet, juice one easy look early, and let gravity do the rest. If the catch-and-shoot normalizes—and history says it should—Dallas adds a familiar weapon to a roster that’s already winning with size, defense, and balance.