"We're knocking on the door": Klay Thompson sees himself as missing piece for Mavs' championship puzzle

New Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson's move from the Golden State Warriors is one of the league's biggest stories this offseason. Speaking at his introductory press conference on Tuesday, he shared the utmost optimism for his new team.

"I was just watching [the NBA Finals] as a basketball fan, and I did see that I could really help this team," Thompson said.

"They're right there, they're maybe a few pieces away, not big adjustments just little adjustmets to get them over the top. Dirk went through it in his first finals, and Luka did too," he added.

Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki led the franchise to their first finals in 2006 and were favored to win over the Miami Heat but lost the series 4-2. He got his revenge in 2011, impressively defeating not just Dwyane Wade — who torched him in 2006 — but also LeBron James.

Thompson believes the Mavericks are next up for the title.

"We're knocking on the door, and that's really getting me excited to be here."

Klay Thompson looking for a new spark late in career

The guard also said that he appreciates the Bay Area but is just looking to light a new fire at this stage in his career.

"I just felt like moving on could just re-energize me, and do something special for the rest of my career," he said. ... "Sometimes change can spur greatness. A new change of scenery can do wonders."

Thompson was drafted by the Warriors in 2011 and has scored 15,531 points with the team. He's a four-time champ, five-time All-Star and made the All-Defensive second team in 2019. He's been a two-way star for most of his career and is known as one of the best shooters ever.

Thompson unfortunately spent nearly two and a half years off the court after the 2019 season, suffering back-to-back season-ending injuries and needing surgery on his left knee and right Achilles. Since then, he's slipped below 40 percent from three in two of the last three seasons — which he never did prior to his injuries — and his field goal percentage has also been down to 43 percent.

On the defensive end, it's hard to find the explosiveness he had earlier in his career. All these factors contributed to the Warriors' reluctance to give him the contract other teams could offer. He's now landed square between superstar guards Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic.

But with his departure from the Warriors, the dynasty ended in the Golden State, and Thompson's next chapter began.