Klay Thompson is already giving Mavericks what they desperately need

The Dallas Mavericks emerged victorious in the Klay Thompson sweepstakes last summer when they signed the veteran sharpshooter to a three-year deal as part of a sign-and-trade with the Golden State Warriors and Charlotte Hornets. Dallas had long been interested in Thompson, especially after struggling from downtown as much as they did in the 2024 NBA Finals, and they're going to need him to play at a high level as much as ever heading into next season.

Dallas will be without Kyrie Irving for the beginning of next season as he recovers from a torn ACL, and they are going to need as much production out of Thompson as possible. He is already under the spotlight thanks to his relationship with Megan Thee Stallion, but that's not the only thing that he's excited about this summer.

Thompson recently hopped on the "Showtime with Michael Cooper Lakers Podcast," and he revealed just how fired up he is for the 2025-26 season.

Klay Thompson is ready to give Dallas his all

"I'm really excited," Thompson said. "I'm actually gonna go to the gym now. I haven't been this motivated in years."

Dallas needs this type of motivation from their guys, especially considering how badly their 2024-25 season ended, and Thompson is setting an excellent example ahead of next season. The Mavericks need all of the positive morale that they can get, and Thompson's excitement will help him and his teammates.

He is clearly fully fired up to begin his second full season with the Mavericks, and Nico Harrison has put a special squad around him as he pushes for his fifth ring. Anthony Davis' first full season with Dallas is bound to be a great one, especially if he can stay healthy, and Thompson talked about just how dominant Davis can be during this podcast appearance as well.

Thompson said that Davis is one of the best power forwards of his generation, and he complimented multiple parts of his game, including his defense, ball handling, and jumper. The 2025-26 season could hinge on Davis and how well he can play, and he is poised to make Thompson's life much easier.

Davis' on-ball gravity should help create plenty of open looks for Thompson, and his new level of motivation could lead to him having a revitalized season in Dallas. Thompson had a strong first season for Dallas, as he averaged 14.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 0.7 steals per game while shooting 39.1 percent from downtown.

Thompson had his ups and downs as the 2024-25 season went on, but the 2025-26 season is what could really define his Mavericks legacy. He has been in the lab all summer long, and the motivation that he talked about on the podcast with Michael Cooper is evident.

All eyes will be on the Mavericks, especially as Cooper Flagg enters his rookie year, and Thompson's shooting is going to be a major X-factor. Dallas ended the 2024-25 season shooting horribly from downtown, and Thompson starting the season strongly in this department could make or break their early-season performance.

He'll be a key member of the starting lineup alongside D'Angelo Russell, Flagg, Davis, and Dereck Lively II, and they are going to need Thompson to effectively stretch the floor, considering Dallas is continuing their double-big lineup. He's ready to roll for one of the most crucial seasons of his career, and Mavericks fans should be excited about how motivated he is.