Klay Thompson is about to embrace what he 'never' did in Golden State for Mavericks

Heading into the 2025-26 season, Klay Thompson is going to have to step up as a leader of the Dallas Mavericks. This isn't something that he really had to do as a member of the Golden State Warriors, as Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala typically filled that role during their glory days, but he'll be prepared to take this next step in his career next season in Dallas and change his mindset about what he needs to bring to the floor on a nightly basis.

On a recent episode of the "Showtime with Michael Cooper Lakers Podcast," Thompson talked about how he needs to step up as a leader and how he is now in a position that he never got to experience as a Warrior.

"I’m the oldest guy on the team, it’s crazy how these things happen," Thompson said. "I gotta lead these guys with my voice and I never really did that in Golden State, so now I have a different calling to use my championship knowledge."

Klay Thompson is ready to become the leader that Dallas needs

Thompson is clearly fired up for his second full season in Dallas, but his role has changed significantly in just a year.

Heading into the 2024-25 season, Thompson was ecstatic to be one of Luka Doncic's running mates. He envisioned himself thriving off Doncic's on-ball gravity, as he thought that he would be the team's "missing piece" after seeing them fall in five games to the Boston Celtics in the 2024 NBA Finals.

Now, everything has changed in Dallas, but Thompson has remained strong and rolled with the punches that have been thrown the team's way. He has never once complained about how his role changed after the Doncic trade, and he has fully embraced being a Maverick and everything that comes along with that.

He likely didn't expect to have to be one of the team's vocal leaders when he joined the Mavs, as Kyrie Irving and Markieff Morris had that locked down, but with Morris gone and Irving sidelined with a torn ACL, the time is now for Thompson to grow as a leader and take this needed step in his career arc as he enters his 13th season in the NBA.

Thompson still remains one of the most deadly 3-point shooters in the NBA, especially when he gets hot and is playing with full confidence, but it's not a secret that he is getting older, and his role could decrease as the years go on in Dallas. He is in the second year of a three-year deal with the Mavericks, and considering that he is already 35 years old and has dealt with some catastrophic injuries, he was going to need to grow his leadership qualities at some point or another.

Next season, Thompson will still play a vital role in Dallas, as they'll need his shooting badly and he'll likely start at shooting guard, but they may end up needing his leadership just as much.

After going through one of the craziest seasons in NBA history, the Mavericks will be desperate to bounce back and return to the playoffs, and they are going to need a steady voice in the locker room to help them do that. Irving can only do so much, especially with him set to miss multiple months, and Thompson must do everything he can to be a great example for those around him on and off the court.

Thompson's leadership is something that Jason Kidd would occasionally bring up last season, as he is the definition of a pro and has won four NBA Championships, but his leadership style seemed to be more of leading by example rather than being a vocal leader. He is now ready to make this change and help the Mavericks in a way that he never expected.