Klay Thompson Hypes Kyrie Irving, AD and Reveals NBA's Top Shooters Today, All-Time
Dallas Mavericks star Klay Thompson is enthusiastic about the team's direction with he, Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis in key roles.
Appearing on the Showtime With Michael Cooper podcast, Thompson called Davis "the best power forward, maybe of my generation" and "a two-way force."
"There's not many big men who can do what he does as far as his handle, his blocking-shot ability and his jump shot," Thompson said starting at the 11:35 mark.
The five-time All-Star went on to argue the Mavs have the NBA's best frontcourt when all of their players are healthy.
With regard to Irving, Thompson said he's happy he's no longer lining up opposite the dynamic guard.
"He's the toughest guy I've ever guarded," he told Cooper (9:52 mark). "Put him up there with LeBron, KD, and Kobe. He's got no weaknesses in his game."
Thompson recounted Game 5 of the 2016 NBA Finals, when Irving shot 17-of-24 for 41 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers began their historic comeback against the Golden State Warriors.
Unfortunately for the Mavericks, there's a chance Irving misses all of 2025-26 while he recovers from a torn ACL. In the event he does suit up, the All-Star break is the earliest he'll probably return.
Once they get to full strength, the Mavericks will certainly be formidable.
Given he's one of the most potent shooters of his era, Cooper pressed Thompson to name the best marksmen of the past and present.
In terms of who's playing now, Thompson reeled off Warriors star Stephen Curry, Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant, himself, Phoenix Suns Devin Booker and then struggled to pick between the Los Angeles Lakers' Luka Dončić, Portland Trail Blazers' Damian Lillard and Irving.
From an all-time perspective, Thompson included Curry, Reggie Miller, Ray Allen, Larry Bird and himself to close out the discussion.
It's tough to argue with his overall list when he, Curry, Miller and Allen all rank in the top six in all-time threes made. Bird, meanwhile, was a 37.6 percent shooter from beyond the arc and a three-time winner of the Three-Point Contest.
