Klay Thompson’s night carried more weight than just another regular-season appearance.
With the Dallas Mavericks severely shorthanded on Thursday, the veteran sharpshooter returned to the floor tasked with steadying a depleted lineup still searching for answers after a 118-109 loss to the Denver Nuggets the night before.
Dallas was without rookie Cooper Flagg, who sprained his ankle against Denver. Meanwhile, Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving remained sidelined with major injuries.
Despite the circumstances, Thompson delivered a moment that transcended the box score.
Early in the first quarter, the five-time All-Star etched his name deeper into NBA history. Thompson entered the night with 2,803 career 3-pointers and wasted little time adding to that total. With 3:52 left in the opening period, he buried his first triple from the wing.
He wasn’t finished. At the 1:18 mark of the quarter, Thompson connected again, this time from 24 feet out off a feed from Ryan Nembhard. The shot pushed him past Damian Lillard on the NBA’s all-time 3-point list, officially moving Thompson into fourth place in league history.
The Mavericks quickly marked the milestone on social media.
“History from beyond the arc. Klay Thompson passes Damian Lillard for 4th all-time in 3s. CONGRATS, CAP!” the team posted on X.
The NBA echoed the sentiment, congratulating Thompson for climbing the historic leaderboard.
Klay Thompson Speaks Out on Making History
After the game, Thompson took a moment to reflect on the significance of the achievement, pointing to the legends who paved the way.
“I wouldn’t be here without Reggie Miller and Ray Allen,” Thompson said, acknowledging the shooters who helped redefine the position before him, per NBA.
Thompson helped the Mavericks beat the Jazz, 144-122. He finished with a team-high 26 points on 10-of-18 shooting from the field. The 35-year-old sharpshooter also recorded six assists off the bench.
The former Golden State Warriors star made a total of six shots from deep, putting him at 2,806 triples. He’s 164 triples behind Allen.
