it’s march 2026 and Klay Thompson is no longer the guy who’s going to drop 60 points on 11 dribbles anymore. He’s 36, and at this point in Dallas, the box score doesn’t always look neat for him, he’s averaging career lows and struggling to stay efficient but his impact on the game itself is always there. if you watch the games, his value is still mostly about the gravity he brings. Even when his shots aren’t falling, defenses still panic when he relocates to the corner because he’s always someone you have to watch out for. For a Mavs team that’s trying to find its way with Cooper Flagg taking over the spotlight, Klay’s job now is basically just making sure the floor stays spaced. He’s not a centerpiece of the team anymore like his warriors days he’s just the veteran presence that keeps the lanes open for everyone else.

Defensively, it’s a story of being smart and knowing what to do rather than being athletic. He’s definitely lost his athleticism mostly due to his run of injuries earlier this decade, and elite guards like sga or Luka are going to be able to hunt him in isos that’s just the reality of his age and injuries. But he’s rarely ever out of position and can hold his own most of the time and lock down sometimes too. He knows exactly where to stand to stop a drive and he’s constantly giving rotations to the younger guys who are still learning.

On a team that’s in a big rebuild stage, you need someone like Klay who plays without errors and does the little things right when others can’t. He can’t lock down superstars like he used to anymore, but he’s still a high-IQ veteran who understands what it takes to win, even if the Mavs are struggling with that and possibly don’t want to win. That’s the impact that Klay Thompson still has, purely due to his natural talent and experience now as a league veteran.

— @PlayoffFlagg_ on X

Klay Thompson’s Career Stats