Is it wrong to think that the Dallas Mavericks fans are the most miserable in the league right now? They might still make the play-ins, which seemed unfathomable during February, but a couple of things went wrong later, like Kyrie Irving’s torn ACL and the fact that the team has been spiraling downward! They have gone from bad to worse, and as journalist John Schuhmann pointed out earlier this month, “Their defense has been worse than their offense (which ranks first in turnover rate) over the seven games since Kyrie Irving was lost for the season.”

The ridiculous turn of events that unfolded in the span of a month paints a grim image, but despite the overwhelming challenges, Klay Thompson remains hopeful. He has seen a whole bunch of highs and lows in what’s been a glorious career so far. For Klay, this is just another hurdle to overcome. The Mavs still have a wealth of experience and veteran aura on the team with Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis in the squad. But their injuries have really made proceedings a lot rougher. AD’s shown his quality in 3 of the last 4 games, but he’ll need to be the mainstay center Nico Harrison brought him in for.

But Klay has given them a stark reminder—the trio has tasted success together. And that’s what they’re looking to emulate with the Mavericks as well. “I’m tryna remind people too, like I’ve had great success with Anthony and Ky. We won a world championship in 2014, so it’d be nice to end our careers together, or at least my career with them. Hopefully, win at a high level,” he said in his post-game interview.

Maybe this season’s a bit hopeful, but you can never predict the future. Klay Thompson, for sure, wants to get Dallas a much-deserved second ring before retiring as a winner, and perhaps the end is near. You see, he is 35 and has experienced a torn ACL and Achilles since 2019. However, has two more years on his contract. But in all the reminiscing, there was a morsel of regret. A shining light in their team has bid farewell to the club. Brandon Williams’ 10-day contract has come to an end. And sadly, there are no talks of an extension or a renewal due to salary cap issues in the squad.

“Yeah, it’s really unfortunate that’s the case because he is helping us so much. His ability to get to the rim, scoring ability—and I really wish he could stick with us because he’s been such a pleasant surprise. And he’s been such a great energy off the bench or in the starting lineup and it sucks that he can’t keep going because he’s making a huge impact,” said Klay. The young guard has averaged 8.3 points per game in just 14.8 minutes on the floor. Williams had 14 points in the team’s win over the Magic, marking his ninth game in the month of March where he has scored in double figures.

But the woes of his first season at the Mavs have not gone as Klay Thompson envisioned. From the NBA finals to play-ins contentions in the space of nine months, the pressure has really gotten to Captain Klay. Well, at least that’s what his father confessed earlier this month.

Klay Thompson is ‘stuck in purgatory’, says his father

Hardcore NBA fans know all about Mychal Thompson’s legacy in the sport. It’s almost been matched or outclassed by his son Klay, considering he has four championship rings sitting in his personal trophy cabinet. But the current situation has brought a lot of worry to the NBA player.

“He thought with Luka [Dončić] and Kyrie he had a chance to get back to the Finals. Obviously, Luka left. When I told him [Anthony Davis] is coming, you still got a chance to get to the Finals because AD’s that good. Then he’s hurt. And then [Daniel] Gafford got hurt and then [Dereck] Lively got hurt… So yeah, Klay is stuck in purgatory right now. And if they hang on to the 10th seed, that will be the story of the year in the NBA. Because I think they’re going to lose 10 in a row.”

The Mavs have had an upturn in fortunes recently, winning 5 of their last 10, including two on the bounce against Orlando and Chicago. Klay got a combined 32 points in these games, showing a promising immediate future heading into the play-ins. But for Mychal, this still isn’t enough to justify an emulation of last season—a dagger in the hopes of Thompson and Co.

With AD in the squad and Klay Thompson in form, a solid showing in the playoffs will be seen as a W in the Mavs’ books. But with Kyrie Irving potentially out for the year, his plans of retiring on a high note will have to take a back seat. What do you think?