After defeating the New York Knicks on Wednesday night, the Dallas Mavericks are 11-8 in the early season. Losing Luka Doncic to a right wrist sprain was thought to be a tough uphill battle for the Mavs, but the team has only gotten better with their superstar sidelined.
Not only have multiple role players stepped up, but Dallas has found their potential third star. Naji Marshall's emergence has been a welcomed sight for fans. Marshall is on a mini heater, and his 3-point shot has become a reliable weapon in his arsenal.
While the Mavericks are in the midst of winning six of their last seven games, the team is still suffering their fair share of injuries. After an illness has swept through the locker room over the previous week, Klay Thompson's new injury could be more alarming than fans realize.
Thompson's foot injury could become a lingering issue
When Thompson was announced as out on the second night of a back-to-back versus the Atlanta Hawks with left foot plantar fascia, fans weren't surprised to see the 34-year-old sidelined for one game. Despite there being very little known about Thompson's injury, he would continue to miss time after being sidelined once again versus the Knicks on Wednesday night.
While Thompson's injury isn't expected to be anything long-term, this injury couldn't have come at the worst time for Thompson and the Mavs. Thompson has continued to consistently struggle to make an impact with his new team after starting the season strong.
Not only has the future Hall of Famer's 3-point production taken a huge dip, but there has been a visible decline in Thompson's athleticism.
At 34 years old, it's unfair to have high expectations for a player who has had two horrific injuries in the past, but Thompson's production hasn't been what fans expected.
Not only has Thompson struggled, but his recent foot injury could be an insight into what his future could be with Dallas. Before the season started, Thompson suffered a back injury after just the first preseason game with the Mavericks.
While Thompson's injury wasn't anything serious as he hasn't missed any more time from it, it still can be a concerning foresight into what his time in Dallas could look like.
On Wednesday night, Thompson was listed as questionable before being downgraded to out against the Knicks which should be a promising sign we could see him on the floor again in the coming days. Despite this, Thompson missed valuable time to get his season back on track.
For the majority of the young season, Thompson has struggled to find his identity in Dallas. While he has had some fantastic games, Thompson has followed those up with some all-time stinker performances. While his passing and defense have both been better than expected, his shooting has to get back on track for him to reach his full potential with his new team.
Missing the two games against the Hawks and Knicks could have been much-needed time to get extra reps and potentially break out of this concerning slump.
Despite Thompson struggling, the Mavericks have largely not needed his shooting after the emergence of multiple role players on the offensive end. While this is a positive, Thompson's role on the Mavs has now been put into question.
With Thompson struggling to make an impact on both ends of the floor, it only makes sense for Jason Kidd to potentially bench the four-time champion in hopes he finds more production off the bench.
Thompson's health will continue to be monitored in the coming days, but it would be shocking not to see him on the floor in the next few games. He did not practice on Friday, and his status for tomorrow's game against the Utah Jazz is in question.
His injury combined with his average play is not a good combo, but Thompson will have plenty of time to get rolling once he returns to the floor.
