Klay Thompson praised Kyrie Irving as one of the toughest guards he’s faced, placing him among the game’s elite—LeBron, KD, and Kobe—in a candid Dallas talk. Irving’s impact in Dallas is framed as a rising centerpiece for a title-contending push, with energy and leadership lighting the room as the Mavericks chase another deep run. Thompson’s lauds come as Irving, sidelined by an ACL tear since March, nears return to a team built around skill, spacing, and late-game versatility.

Irving’s three-season pace in Dallas—25.5 PPG on 49% from the floor and 40% from three—highlights his elite scoring and shot-making when healthy. The piece notes his ACL rehab and a future on-court pairing with Thompson, along with Anthony Davis and Cooper Flagg, in a storyline that could redefine Dallas’ ceiling. Dallas faces a major health timeline, with Irving’s return key to shaping both the lineup and fantasy upside.