Mar 1, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (right) and Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson (31) react on the bench against the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

'He Will Light Your Ass Up' – Dallas Mavericks’ Klay Thompson Draws Huge 'Star' Take From Former NBA Veteran

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics | By Jordan Samar | Last updated Aug 26, 2025 2:46 PM ET

Klay Thompson recently received praise from Patrick Beverley , as the former NBA guard called the Dallas Mavericks swingman one of the league’s top stars.

Beverley’s podcast partner, Rone, argued that Thompson was just a great role player, but Beverley is not having any of it when he talked about the Dallas Mavericks guard.

“Role players are guys who don’t score a lot, do the dirty work. Klay, he does the dirty work, he guards, he guards the second-best player if it gets a win. Obviously, they’re going to try to put Draymond on him. But if it’s a wing and a big, Draymond on the big and you put him on the next best wing, right?” Beverley argued.

Jan 7, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson (31) shoots over Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) and Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (28) during the first half at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

“In my mind, he does the small things when it comes to defending. But like, you scoring 50, you hitting 10 threes, that ain’t what role players do. Role players are supposed to come in and give you 8-12 points and take charges… Klay Thompson? Man, he will light your a** up.” he continued.

Dallas Mavericks draw strong declaration from Charles Barkley

Long-time NBA analyst Charles Barkley believes that the Dallas Mavericks have the makings of being one of the best teams in the Western Conference if they can all stay healthy this upcoming season.

Feb 8, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Anthony Davis (3) and guard Kyrie Irving (11) celebrate after Davis dunks the ball during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Houston Rockets at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

“Let me tell you this, that Dallas Mavericks team, they might be the second-best team in the West if they could ever get healthy. Obviously, Kyrie is going to come back mid-season, but if AD can get healthy, and that boy Cooper Flagg, he’s the real deal,” Barkley said on BetMGM Network.

ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith said something similar about the Dallas Mavericks, especially after a productive offseason with the acquisition of Cooper Flagg and D’Angelo Russell while re-signing Kyrie Irving and Dante Exum to new deals.