Mavericks' Klay Thompson Gave Celtics' Jayson Tatum Advice on Returning From Injury

Dallas Mavericks sharpshooter Klay Thompson may no longer be the player he once was, but he has become an extremely valuable veteran to the locker room. We're seeing that leadership and experience impact other locker rooms, too.

Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum recently returned from a torn Achilles tendon, with his first game being against the Mavs. Klay Thompson went through that same experience at the beginning of the decade, and he was able to give Tatum some advice after that meeting in March.

“Klay [Thompson] told me this after we played them the first time, he’s just like, man, he’s like one thing he wished he did more, when he first came back was just give himself more grace," Tatum said recently. "He was like, ‘There's not too many people understand what this injury is like and coming back and the ups and downs, physically and mentally that you deal with.’ That's just something I've tried to continue to remind myself.

"︀︀It’s a balance of being a competitor and wanting to be the best version of yourself, but I just kind of try to remember, I've came a long way, and I'm grateful to be where I'm at. I wasn't 100% sure I was even gonna be able to play this year, so the fact that I'm able to go out there and contribute even what I'm doing now is a big win.”

Asked Jayson Tatum if he feels like there’s been a turning point with the joy he’s felt on the floor as of late:

“Klay [Thompson] told me this after we played them the first time, he’s just like, ‘Man, he’s like one thing he wished he did more, when he first came back was just… pic.twitter.com/aoAtVkOzLk
— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) April 2, 2026

Tatum has been great since returning, averaging 21.3 PPG and 9.8 RPG, and even won a Player of the Week award recently. The three-point shot has been a struggle, but to return from an Achilles injury in less than a year and still be this effective is nothing short of incredible.

Dallas Mavericks Facing Major Klay Thompson Decision

Klay Thompson hasn't played many games recently due to rest, as the Mavs have already been eliminated from postseason contention this season. He's still an effective shooter at this stage of his career, but the Mavs don't have enough playmaking to take advantage of it.

Thompson will be entering the final year of his contract next season, worth $17.4 million. His tenure in Dallas has been anything but what anyone expected. They were a team fresh off a trip to the NBA Finals, and everyone believed they were an elite shooter away winning a championship. Thompson was really looking forward to feeding off the easy looks that Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving can create.

Instead, the Mavs traded Doncic in the most shocking trade in sports history, arguably the worst, and they've not had sufficient playmaking since, especially after Irving tore his ACL. Thompson wants to chase championships, and while the Mavs want to contend next year, there's a world where Thompson is a buyout candidate, or a team could use his expiring deal for future salary relief.

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