The Mavs made one of the most entertaining Championship runs in 2011. Led by Dirk Nowitzki, they went past top teams in the West to finally face off against the feared LeBron James and the Heat in the Finals. Now, they weren’t exactly the favorites to win it all. But this squad was special and despite an aging roster, Mark Cuban’s side went on to get the better of Miami to win its first-ever title. More than a decade later, the newest member of the Mavs, Klay Thompson, has studied the 2011 clips, as he hopes to replicate such a run!

Back then, Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, who’s now the head coach of the Mavs, and Jason Terry were among the playoff leaders of the squad. The series against the Heat was also a rematch of the 2006 Finals. For Klay, it gives him a fair idea and a deep dive into the team’s history and struggles. And luckily for the Mavericks, they have a committed newcomer!

Klay’s reaction was promising, as he said, “Just an incredible group that persevered through, you know, low seed, and beat some incredibly talented teams, whether its Kobe-Lakers, or KD’s Thunder and even the Heatles of Miami. It was just a run that was so inspiring and it was cool to watch that and try and replicate that in the upcoming season.” There is no doubt that the sharpshooter is committed to winning a Championship in Dallas. Re-watching the 2011 Finals footage was enough of a motivation as Klay looks forward to playing alongside his long-time rival.

One of the key reasons behind Thompson’s move to Dallas and not LA was, in fact, Kyrie Irving. Jason Kidd revealed, “When you talk about the recruitment, it was a lot of people that were involved in that. But one of the biggest players in that was Kai.” Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving are from the same draft class and have played each other thrice in the NBA Finals. As the regular season nears its opening night, the duo is heading towards just becoming a fan favorite.

Klay Thompson will gel perfectly with Uncle Drew!

The Mavs are coming off a trip to the Finals and have all the assets to make another Championship run. Joining Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson has solidified the Mavs’ chances of winning their second title. Moreover, while Kai plays at one, Luka mostly takes up the responsibility of handling the offense. Regardless, Kyrie and Luka now have a reliable shooter to trust. The Splash Brother is lethal when it comes to catch-and-shoot situations. On the other hand, Uncle Drew can always count on the Sea Captain whenever he finds himself double-teamed.

Playing for a contender matches well with Klay Thompson’s talents, considering his rich playoff record. If anything, he and Irving will be the keys to a Championship, while being powered by Luka Doncic, who’s weirdly being linked with a future move to the Lakers. This duo will be entertaining to watch once the season starts and even better during the playoffs.

Even Mark Cuban hinted at a ‘easier life’ for the sharpshooter in Dallas. He said, “Just standing in the corner and standing in the wings, just catch and shoot from Luka and Ky, hopefully, his life is gonna be a lot easier.”

What are your thoughts on the Klay-Kyrie duo? Do you think they will divert the focus from Luka? Let us know in the comments.

Feel that you can do with another update from the sport of basketball? Then do check out this recent interview with the up-and-coming Georgia Lady Bulldogs star Asia Avinger.