Mavericks' newly formed nucleus is off to a promising start

Last season, the Mavericks finished three wins shy of clinching the franchise’s second NBA championship after a hard-fought Finals matchup against Boston. 

Eager for another NBA Finals berth, Dallas spent the offseason retooling and refining its roster. Notably, the Mavs signed former Warriors sharpshooter and four-time NBA champion Klay Thompson to a three-year pact.  

Though Thompson was not regarded as highly as he was in his prime upon signing, the immense potential of the Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and Thompson “Big 3” could not be ignored. Furthermore, despite Thompson’s flaws being frequently spotlighted by national media last season, Doncic wasn’t as quick to count out the former All-Star.

Following Dallas’ blockbuster deal to land Thompson, the Slovenian superstar spoke highly of him. 

“He’s a four-time champion, he’s an amazing player, so I was very excited that he signed with us,” Doncic said during training camp. "You basically can’t help off him. When me and [Kyrie] have the ball, you basically can’t help from Klay because if you leave him wide open, he’s going to make it, so I think the spacing is going to be crucial for us." 

Irving, who is in his third season with the Mavs, also heaped praise onto his new teammate, citing that Thompson will help them get over the hump.

"I feel like our dreams can be possible because he's here now,” Irving said. “He's added great value to our championship aspirations. If you ask any of us, we feel like we got better as a team." 

So far, nearly a month into the NBA season, the talented trio of scorers has performed exactly how the Mavs envisioned. Despite carrying a meager 5-6 record, Dallas should be pleased with the output they are getting from their stars.  

Doncic and Irving, the offense's engines, have been on fire to begin the season. Both All-Star guards are currently in the top 15 in points per game, with Doncic (28.5 PPG) ranking seventh and Irving (25.2 PPG) ranking fifteenth, respectively. The duo ranks in the top 15 in 20+ point games. Doncic has 10 such games, tied for the second most in the NBA, while Irving has scored 20-plus in eight of 11 contests this season.  

They aren’t just getting buckets; they are doing so efficiently. Both stars shoot above 41 percent from the floor, with Irving shooting a scorching-hot 54 percent field goal percentage.  

"Kai is a special dude," Mavs head coach Jason Kidd told ESPN. "He wants to understand the game at the highest level, wants to be pushed to the highest level. And I don't think he's afraid of failing. Kai wants to be coached. Kai wants to be helped to win a championship." 

Not to be outdone by his superstar teammates, Thompson quietly enjoys a career resurgence in Dallas. Through 11 games, Thompson has scored 16+ points five times and has drained multiple three-pointers in all but three games. On Tuesday, Thompson scored a season-high 22 points, including six three-pointers, against the Warriors in his return to San Francisco.  

Although his homecoming performance was overshadowed by the late-game heroics of his ex-teammate Steph Curry, Thompson and the Mavs must feel good about the sharpshooter’s play so far this season.  

It’s still early, but should the Mavs’ Big 3 of Doncic, Irving, and Thompson continue to gel and play at a high level, the Mavs competing for the Western Conference crown (again) wouldn’t be a shock.