Why is Klay Thompson not playing against Hawks? Looking at 4x NBA champion's absence on Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks (9-8) will take on the Atlanta Hawks (7-10) on Monday without star guard Klay Thompson on the lineup. The Mavs announced Thompson is out due to plantar fasciitis in his left foot, but the team has not provided a timeline for his return.

The next game for Dallas will be on Wednesday against the New York Knicks, a chance for Thompson to return.

Luka Doncic (right wrist sprain), Quentin Grimes (illness), Danté Exum (right wrist surgery) and Brandon Williams (G League) will miss the action against the Hawks. All-Star guard Kyrie Irving (illness) has been upgraded to available.

On Sunday, Thompson played 30 minutes against the Miami Heat. He had 15 points on 3-for-5 shooting from beyond the arc. Dallas lost 123-118 in overtime.

Thompson's absence on Monday will be the first game he'll miss in the 2024-25 NBA season. The four-time champion has played the first 17 games. The 6-foot-7 shooting guard is averaging 13.2 points (his second-lowest career scoring average), 3.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists.

The five-time All-Star is knocking down 36.8% of his 3-pointers this season. His efficiency from deep is the lowest of his career. In his final season with the Warriors (2023-24), Thompson made 38.7% of his long-range shots.

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Heat coach had high praise for Klay Thompson

On Saturday, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra spoke highly about Klay Thompson and his ability to shoot the long ball. Thompson has made a career from beyond the arc and is regarded as one of the best catch-and-shoot players in the league.

Spoelstra acknowledged it before their game because he knows how powerful he can draw from deep.

"He has that Hall of Fame shooting that you always have to be aware of where he is on the court because he can ignite at any moment," Spoelstra said. "Klay is somebody that can get going in not much space or time."

Spoelstra's comments came following Thompson's 0-point performance against the Denver Nuggets on Friday. The two-time All-NBA player had eight attempts from the field and failed to connect a single shot. From beyond the arc, the ex-Warriors star shot 0-for-4.