Dallas Mavericks see Klay Thompson as key to title aspirations - ESPN

DALLAS — Asked for one word to summarize the Dallas Mavericks' approach this season, superstar Luka Doncic thought for several seconds before coming up with his answer.

«Championship,» Doncic said at Monday's media day at the team's practice facility before the Mavs departed to Las Vegas for training camp. «That's the goal.»

The hope is that Klay Thompson, a four-time champion during his 13-year tenure with the Golden State Warriors, can be the final piece to the Mavs' title puzzle after arriving as a prized free agent addition this summer.

«I feel like our dreams can be possible because he's here now,» said Mavs co-star Kyrie Irving, who played a prominent role in the franchise's recruitment of Thompson, his 2011 draft classmate and former Team USA teammate. «He's added a great value to our championship aspirations.»

Irving emphasized how Thompson's title experience can benefit the Mavs, who advanced to the NBA Finals before losing to the Boston Celtics in five games last season. But the discussion of Thompson's value — even at age 34 with two major injuries in his relatively recent medical history — begins with his historically elite 3-point shooting.

The Mavs prioritized adding a 3-point threat after struggling from long range in the Finals, when Dallas shot only 31.6% from 3-point range. Thompson is a career 41.3% 3-point shooter (38.7% on 9.0 attempts per game last season), who ranks sixth in NBA history with 2,481 3s made.

«When me and Kai, when we have the ball, you basically can't help off of Klay,» Doncic said. «Because if you leave him wide open, he's going to make it. So I think the spacing is going to be crucial for us, but more of that, I will tell you after a couple games.»

With Irving owning Thompson's