Klay Thompson Chooses Mavericks Over Lakers Despite Bigger Offer

Photo: Instagram/Klay Thompson

Despite a generous offer from the Lakers, Klay Thompson decided to join the Dallas Mavericks. LeBron James personally pitched to him and was willing to take a pay cut, while Lakers GM Rob Pelinka offered Thompson a four-year, $80 million deal. This was double the Warriors' offer of two years, $40 million.

Thompson chose a three-year, $50 million contract with the Mavericks instead. Money wasn't his top priority. Having earned $268.7 million in his 13-year career, plus endorsements, Thompson was looking for other benefits.

The Mavericks offered a chance to contend again. They played in the Finals last June and needed more shooting, which Thompson could provide. The Lakers, although competitive, were a play-in team with an aging LeBron and a rookie coach.

Photo: Instagram/Klay Thompson

Thompson saw a good fit with the Mavericks, envisioning himself creating space for Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving, while also bringing his championship experience. More importantly, Dallas offered Thompson a chance to feel genuinely appreciated and change the narrative around himself.

A conversation with Kyrie Irving, who also found a home in Dallas after a turbulent time in Brooklyn, resonated with Thompson. Former All-Star turned Mavericks executive Michael Finley also connected well with Thompson, offering a laid-back vibe that matched his personality.

In the end, the Mavericks met Thompson where he was, both figuratively and literally. They respected his achievements and made it clear he was their top priority. Their relaxed and conversational approach during meetings fit perfectly with Thompson's off-court vibe, leading him to choose Dallas.

This decision made the Mavericks one of the winners of the NBA offseason. While it's uncertain what this will mean in the tough Western Conference next season, Thompson made the best choice for himself. And that choice was not the Lakers, despite their generous offer.

Read Next: Jiri Prochazka's Coach Suggests Move To Middleweight Amid Retirement Talk

Source: Yahoo Sports 

Comments

Post a Comment

Trending Now

Evander Holyfield Reveals The Best Fighter He Ever Faced

Image
Photo: Instagram/Evander Holyfield Boxing legend Evander Holyfield has faced some of the sport's biggest names, and he has now revealed who he thinks was the best of them all. Holyfield, one of the most decorated boxers ever, ended his amateur career with an Olympic bronze medal. He then became a standout talent in the cruiserweight division before moving up to become a four-time heavyweight champion, despite being smaller than many of his opponents. Until Oleksandr Usyk matched his feat, Holyfield was the only man to achieve undisputed titles in both cruiserweight and heavyweight. Holyfield is well known for his infamous fight with Mike Tyson , where Tyson bit his ear, and for facing other legends like Lennox Lewis and George Foreman. But in an interview with Ring Magazine’s ‘Best I Faced’ series, Holyfield named Riddick Bowe as the greatest opponent he ever fought. Photo: Instagram/Evander Holyfield "I would say Bowe. I had three fights with Bowe. He was very competitive,
Read More

Katie Taylor Suspended After Controversial Win Over Amanda Serrano

Image
Photo: Katie Taylor / Instagram   Katie Taylor will be suspended for at least 30 days after her controversial victory over Amanda Serrano on Friday night. The fight took place at the AT&T Stadium in Texas, where Taylor defended her light-welterweight titles. The bout went the full 10 rounds, with Taylor winning by unanimous decision. The judges scored it 95-94 in her favor, but the match wasn’t without controversy. Serrano suffered a bad cut from a head clash earlier in the fight, and Taylor was later penalized for a headbutt in the eighth round. After the fight, Serrano expressed her frustration. “I knew when it went to the judges it would be shady,” she said. “She kept headbutting me, but it’s not new. She did the same with Chantelle Cameron.” Photo: Katie Taylor / Instagram   Taylor denied any foul play, saying, “The headbutt was accidental. This is a tough sport, and things like that happen. I’m not a dirty fighter.” Both fighters will be suspended for a mandatory rest perio
Read More

Ryan Garcia Plans Return To Boxing In December, Eyes Fight With Jake Paul

Image
Photo: Ryan Garcia / Instagram   Boxing star Ryan Garcia is set to return to the ring on December 30 for an exhibition fight in Japan. This will be his first match since being suspended for a year after testing positive for a banned substance earlier this year. Garcia, known as "King Ry," will face former kickboxing champion Rukiya Anpo. The fight will be broadcast as a pay-per-view event on Fanmio for $49.99. “I’m excited to knock Anpo out,” Garcia said. “He tried to take down a legend like Manny Pacquiao , and I’m going to teach him some respect.” Photo: Ryan Garcia / Instagram   Anpo recently fought  Pacquiao  to a draw in an exhibition match, but Garcia claims he’ll finish the job in just three rounds. Even before stepping into the ring with Anpo, Garcia has his sights set on Jake Paul. Paul, who recently won a controversial decision against boxing legend Mike Tyson , is one of the biggest names in crossover boxing. “I’ve been quiet, but here’s the plan,” Garcia sh
Read More

Jerseys Worn By LeBron And Bronny James In Historic NBA Game Up For Sale

Image
Photo: Bronny and LeBron James / Instagram   LeBron and Bronny James made history on October 22, becoming the first father and son to play in an NBA game together. Now, the jerseys they wore during that historic game are being sold at auction. The two jerseys, both from the Los Angeles Lakers, are available through a partnership between the NBA and Sotheby’s. The auction started on Thursday, and by Thursday evening, bids had already reached $70,000. LeBron's jersey has been matched to the Lakers' 110-103 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he played 34 minutes, scoring 16 points, with five rebounds and four assists. The jersey was also linked to two preseason games and the NBA media day. Photo: Bronny and LeBron James / Instagram Sotheby’s says Bronny’s jersey was worn in the second half of the game, but it could not be verified with photos because he was often seen wearing a warm-up jacket. However, the jersey was matched to four preseason games and NBA media day
Read More

Mike Tyson Responds To Evander Holyfield’s Callout: “The Trilogy Is Our Friendship”

Image
Photo: Mike Tyson / Instagram   Mike Tyson has addressed a challenge from his former rival, Evander Holyfield , just days after losing to Jake Paul in a much-hyped boxing match. The 58-year-old boxing legend returned to the ring last weekend but was outmatched by the younger Paul, losing by unanimous decision. While Tyson hinted at a possible fight with Logan Paul , Holyfield’s callout has sparked interest among fans. Holyfield, 61, took to Instagram to suggest a third fight with Tyson, writing, “The fans want it! #UnfinishedBusiness.” Tyson responded warmly, saying, “I love you, brother, but the trilogy is our friendship.” Photo: Mike Tyson / Instagram   The two have a storied history in boxing. Holyfield defeated Tyson in their first bout in 1996 and famously won their 1997 rematch when Tyson was disqualified for biting his ear. Despite their heated past, the former rivals have grown close in recent years. Holyfield last fought in 2021, while Tyson’s recent match was his first p
Read More

Jury Rules Conor McGregor Sexually Assaulted Woman In 2018

Image
Photo: Conor McGregor / Instagram   Irish mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor has been ordered to pay €250,000 ($259,950) in damages after a jury found he sexually assaulted a woman in 2018. The verdict came on Friday after a civil trial at Ireland’s High Court. The jury, made up of eight women and four men, deliberated for over six hours before reaching their decision. The woman, Nikita Hand, said McGregor assaulted her on December 9, 2018, at a party in a hotel penthouse in Dublin. She also accused another man, James Lawrence, of assault, but the jury found Lawrence did not harm her. Photo: Conor McGregor / Instagram   McGregor, 36, denied the allegations, claiming the encounter was consensual. He also denied causing any injuries. He left the court without commenting. Hand’s lawyer, John Gordon, told the court that Hand visited a sexual assault treatment unit the day after the incident, where a doctor documented her injuries. Hand testified that she met McGregor after a work Chri
Read More

Prosecutors Say Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Is Trying To Influence Witnesses And The Jury While In Jail

Image
Photo: Sean 'Diddy' Combs / Instagram   Prosecutors allege that Sean 'Diddy' Combs has been breaking federal detention rules to influence witnesses and the jury pool in his ongoing sex trafficking case. According to a new court filing, Combs used other inmates' phone accounts to avoid monitoring and paid them through intermediaries, which is against jail rules. The music mogul, who is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, is accused of making three-way calls to unapproved contacts and sending hundreds of unauthorized text messages. Prosecutors claim he is attempting to silence accusers and sway testimony in his favor. Combs, who has pleaded not guilty, faces charges of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and related crimes. Prosecutors also accuse him of using social media to influence public opinion, including directing family members to post videos to gain sympathy and manipulate potential jurors. Photo: Sean 'Diddy' Combs /
Read More

Francis Ngannou’s Coach Shares Tips For Tom Aspinall To Beat Jon Jones

Image
Photo: Tom Aspinall, Jon Jones / Instagram   Francis Ngannou ’s coach, Eric Nicksick , has shared advice with Tom Aspinall on how to potentially defeat Jon Jones in their rumored UFC heavyweight unification fight. Jones recently defended his heavyweight title at UFC 309 with a stunning spinning back kick knockout of Stipe Miocic . Meanwhile, Aspinall holds the interim heavyweight belt after knocking out Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295. Nicksick, who trains fighters like Ngannou, isn’t Aspinall’s coach but has still discussed strategies with him. He believes Aspinall’s unique skills could give him a real chance to become the first fighter to officially beat Jones. Photo: Tom Aspinall / Instagram   Speaking to The Schmo, Nicksick highlighted Aspinall’s footwork and fight IQ. He said Aspinall’s ability to switch stances and adapt in the heavyweight division is rare. “You can’t just stay in Jon’s range and let him control the fight,” Nicksick said. “You have to be aggressive and not let him
Read More

Jon Jones Predicts Gable Steveson Will Become UFC Champion

Image
Photo: Jon Jones / Instagram   Jon Jones , the UFC heavyweight champion, has named Gable Steveson as the next big star in MMA. After successfully defending his title at UFC 309 by knocking out Stipe Miocic , Jones spoke about Steveson, who is still new to the sport but has impressed many, including Jones himself. Jones, who was training with Steveson before UFC 309, praised the Olympic gold medalist wrestler's toughness and potential. "Gable has everything it takes," said Jones. "When we were practicing, he stepped in right away when one of my teammates got hurt. He’s fearless, even when facing tough situations." Jones went on to explain how Steveson handled being kneed in the face during a sparring session, showing no fear. "He ate it, and it looked like a kid with a new toy," Jones recalled. "He’s going to be scary. Once he learns boxing and jiu-jitsu, it’s not a question of if he’ll be a champion, but when." Photo: Jon Jones / Instagram  
Read More

Khalil Rountree Reveals He Went Blind During UFC 307 Loss To Alex Pereira

Image
Photo: Khalil Rountree / Instagram   UFC light-heavyweight fighter Khalil Rountree is sharing the tough truth about his fight against Alex Pereira at UFC 307. Rountree, who earned a title shot after a strong five-fight win streak, faced Pereira, the reigning champion.  Despite being the underdog, Rountree gave it his all, even knocking Pereira down in the second round. As the fight went on, Rountree was doing well and was ahead on the scorecards.  However, in the fourth round, Pereira came back strong and won with a knockout to retain his title. Many praised Rountree for his heart and performance, but what fans didn't know was that he was fighting through a serious injury. Photo: Khalil Rountree / Instagram   Speaking on the JAXXON Podcast, Rountree explained that he went blind during the fight after a hard hit from Pereira. “In the moment, I didn’t feel it,” Rountree said. “But the second shot, the one that actually split my eye, I went blind. I couldn’t see anything, just light
Read More