Klay Thompson says whenever Kyrie Irving speaks it is like listening to legendary LA Lakers pair

Thompson has immense respect for Irving’s game

As a player who has experience playing alongside a top-tier point guard, Thompson knows what it takes for a player to stay at the top of his game because of Stephen Curry. Now, he is seeing it again with Irving.

They already had a full season alongside each other in the 2024-25 campaign, which means they have a good connection. Irving won’t make it to the start of the season, but he will join the team sometime soon alongside a contract extension.

Thompson is ecstatic about that because he has immense respect for Irving. That is not only because they were rivals before and during the Golden State Warriors vs the Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Finals matchups. It is because Thompson got a good glimpse into how Irving carries himself behind the scenes.

“He’s such a professional. He’s a great dad, and you can just feel that energy when he walks in the building. He elevates everybody, and he’s our leader,” Thompson said on Showtime with Michael Cooper.

“I’m really excited when Kyrie can come back, and we can be whole again, because we only got to see it for one half last year, and I felt like we had the chance to be the best team in the league.”

“Anytime he speaks, you know, it was probably like when Magic spoke or when Kareem spoke. I mean, I know Magic talks a lot, but when he speaks, you listen.”

The 2025-26 Mavericks have immense potential

The Western Conference in the 2025-26 season will be focused on the Denver Nuggets and the defending champions Oklahoma City Thunder. Most people don’t recognize that there will be a competitive field behind those two teams.

The Lakers with Doncic are a tough matchup, while the Mavericks with Davis, Thompson, and Irving are dark horses to win the Western Conference. It will be another tough campaign for Jason Kidd and his team, but they are confident in the quality of their roster.

They also have Flagg, the number one pick of the 2025 NBA Draft. If he delivers on his potential, the Mavericks could be contenders for years to come. General manager Nico Harrison could be seen as a genius if this move succeeds.

With the defensive potential of the Mavericks’ roster, it might be hard to contest Harrison’s points about defense. However, that will likely require a championship because people still dislike Harrison. With Irving serving as their leader, the Mavericks’ roster is in good hands.