Klay Thompson Starts for Dallas Mavericks, Aims to Re-establish Elite Scoring Role

Klay Thompson is confirmed to be in the Dallas Mavericks' starting lineup for Wednesday's game against the Knicks. Having joined Dallas in the offseason after parting ways with the Warriors, Thompson will play alongside Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic, seeking to prove he remains an elite perimeter scorer and a top three-point shooter. While his defensive lateral movement has regressed, his value now primarily hinges on points, threes, and free-throw percentage, making him more of a specialist. Last season with the Warriors, his scoring dipped to 17.9 PPG in 77 games. Thompson's career has been marked by significant injuries, including a torn ACL in the 2019 Finals and a torn Achilles before the 2020-21 season, sidelining him for two-and-a-half years. Despite a challenging return in January 2022 with inconsistent shooting, he previously enjoyed five All-Star seasons, averaging 21.6 PPG and setting career-bests in three-pointers made. His fantasy outlook remains cautious due to age and injury history, with potential for rest in back-to-backs and a gradual increase in minutes.