Jason Kidd details Kyrie Irving's integral role in Mavericks recruiting Klay Thompson

Kyrie Irving was a crucial piece in the Dallas Mavericks' run to the 2024 NBA Finals. His leadership on the court during the season appears to have carried over into the team's offseason as well, specifically regarding the addition of Klay Thompson.

Thompson opted to leave the Golden State Warriors during free agency in favor of the Mavericks. In a recent interview with Monte Poole on NBC Sports Bay Area's "Dubs Talk," head coach Jason Kidd explained how pivotal Irving was in helping bring Thompson to town. According to Kidd, Irving was "one of the biggest players" in the process.

“When you talk about the recruitment, it was a lot of people that were involved in that. But one of the biggest players in that was Kai,” Kidd said. “Kai being able to, player to player, (detail) his experience of what Dallas has been like for him in two years and being able to tell Klay the honest truth of what he thinks can happen with Klay coming to Dallas.”

Irving revitalized his NBA career after joining the Mavericks after receiving plenty of scrutiny during his tenures with the Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets. While Irving's talent was never the question, his ability to thrive while playing alongside fellow star Luka Doncic and leading the team to the finals while also taking on a full-blown leadership role was one of the biggest stories of the 2023-24 season.

Although Thompson's situation amid his departure from the Warriors is under different circumstances, it's easy to see how Irving's insight into the organization could be a driving factor for any potential free agent. Irving stepped up to the plate during the season, and he's continued doing so for the franchise during key moments, which should bode well for their outlook in 2024-25.