The new Maverick, Klay Thompson is set to begin the next chapter of his career alongside his longtime opponent and an MVP-caliber player. We’ve seen Thompson and Kyrie go at it in the Finals, as well as their famous Christmas Day showdowns. But this time, the best ball handler and the best catch-and-shoot player in the league will share the ball on the court. From 2015-17, Thompson and Irving were among the top players in the Association, both winning championships along the way. As the Mavericks aim to be one of the top title contenders, they might be poised to win a championship together.

On the other hand, Thompson and Dub Nation (Golden State Warriors fan base) had a hard time moving apart, though Klay is focused on what’s ahead. In his introductory press conference with the Mavs, Thompson looked forward to playing with Kyrie. Especially now that he is on the other side of the fence. “Kyrie and I are good friends. I mean we came to the league together in 2011. We played on Team USA together twice. Obviously played against each other at the highest stages for many years and I’ve always been a fan of Kai’s game. Guarding him was hell, so it’s nice to be on the other end of that for once and see other defenders get loose and get shook by him. That’s going to be a good sight to see.”, said Klay.

Given their extensive history, Thompson has significant experience guarding Kyrie. He was his primary defender whenever they faced off in the Finals and regular season. Although Irving was injured during his first Finals appearance, he certainly made up for it the following year. Thompson is well aware of Kai’s talents and his IQ. On the other hand, Irving has gone up against Thompson in his prime. Both have extendable knowledge of each other’s game and they’ll definitely use it as an advantage on the floor.

But as we dive deep into the Mavs roster, Klay’s role does come up to be as that of a starter. Thompson’s struggles in recent years are the reason why he’s in Dallas. Now, of course, a couple of bad seasons can’t overshadow his true ability. And that’s exactly what he’ll look to prove as he joins the incredible scoring duo. However, are the Mavs a stronger contender with Klay’s addition?

Klay Thompson and Irving will be a problem

The big three in Dallas are already a major threat in the West. Klay and Kyrie would almost be unguardable on the offensive end, considering the threat they bring and Doncic‘s presence. Not only that but knowing that these two players have sufficient postseason experience also brings a lot of guidance. Other than Thompson and Irving, Mavs’ core is rather young. They have the face of their franchise, Luka Magic, along with guys like Washington and Gafford. Yes, they have special assets that are going to be there for the long term.

But what the front office should focus on is aligning Thompson with Kyrie. The two can be the bedrock of the Mavs’ roster for the next few years supporting Doncic. If the franchise is looking for long-term success, they’ll have to set this very core as their top priority. What does that mean? Well, they have two players who were the top prospects in their draft class. Paired with the two is a future MVP. The Nuggets based their roster around Murray and Jokic. Similarly, the Mavericks can look to adjust these three to ensure a contender-like presence for quite a few seasons.

It will be interesting to see Thompson play in Dallas, hopefully in the long run too. What are your thoughts on Thompson and Kyrie teaming up? Do you think they’re a backcourt to look out for? Let us know in the comments.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what brand maker, Leonard Armato, had to say about the deadly duo, Shaq and Kobe, check out this exclusive video by EssentiallySports.