Mavericks Practice Insights: Irving, Kidd Praise High-Intensity Practices as Thompson, Dončić Display 'Really Good' Connection
Klay Thompson is building strong chemistry with Luka Dončić as the Mavericks gear up for the season, with Jason Kidd praising their growing on-court connection.
DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks took the court Monday for another intense practice session to prepare for Thursday’s season opener against the San Antonio Spurs. With the preseason behind them, the team has valuable practice days to take advantage of before beginning regular season competition.
Klay Thompson, who did not play with Luka Dončić during the preseason, has focused on developing that chemistry during practice. Head coach Jason Kidd noted how critical these sessions have been in establishing a rhythm between them.
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“He’s Klay. He looks good,” Kidd said. “Those two seem like they’ve been playing together for a while, and that’s a positive. Klay is doing everything we’ve asked of him, both offensively and defensively. I think you’ll see as the season goes on that they have a good understanding of each other’s game. We talk about the late pass with Luka — it takes time to get used to. He’s so strong that when it looks like he’s going for a layup, he can fire a fastball to you.”
Kidd praised the relationship Thompson and Dončić have already built, describing it as “really, really good.” The Slovenian superstar has made it a point to help Thompson get acclimated to his passing approach and has given him consistent touches when they’ve played live to help build the connection.
“Klay’s done a great job, and Luka has made sure to get him touches, letting him know he’ll always be open or at least feel like he is,” Kidd said. “That relationship is really, really good.”
Kyrie Irving sees significant potential for the Mavericks’ offense. Dončić’s return to competition in practice has fully illustrated it but emphasized the need for the group to be ready to play off his passing.
“In practice, it’s been fun just feeling the spacing out there. Luka being back out here, he starts doing all his ‘Luka magic’ stuff, and guys have to be ready to play off of that,” Irving said. “The beautiful thing is we have guys you can play off of, guys you can throw the ball to and isolate, guys that are willing to play selflessly.”
Irving did mention there’s room for improvement in how he and Dončić can get off the ball and set the tone by playing different roles when teams load up on them. Irving believes that this group has enough talent to diversify their attack.
“When we’re out there, even when guys play iso, that’s not our only strength. We have other options,” Irving explained. “Teams are going to load up on me and Luka, so we have to do a better job as leaders to get off the ball, play different roles, and everything else will follow if we do the right things.”
High-Intensity Practices Boost Competition
With Dončić and Maxi Kleber back to full participation since Friday, practice intensity has ramped up significantly. Kidd and the coaching staff have maintained a high level of competition, pushing players to perform at their best.
“The practices here have been extremely intense,” Kidd said. “We want to foster that competitive spirit, especially with Luka back on the floor. When he’s out there, it changes the energy. The goal is to make practices tougher than games, so the team is ready for any challenge.”
Irving, a vocal leader, highlighted how he and Dončić set the tone for these sessions. “Whenever Luka and I are in practice, it’s going to be intense because we want to go at each other, compete, and set a great example for the rest of the team,” Irving said. “I think the rest of the guys feel the same way. We want to push hard to make practices a little tougher than games.”
The focus on intensity has also extended to improving communication throughout the roster. “It’s very important, you know, building that continuity, building that trust, and just having some fun,” Irving added. “It’s good to finally have everybody on the court, having a healthy group.”
Kidd emphasized that communication has been a focal point of the Mavericks’ recent practices, mainly as the team works to integrate new players. The team has prioritized defensive improvements heading into the regular season, focusing on getting everyone involved and adapting to their roles.
“It’s a small thing, but when guys are talking to each other, it makes everything easier — on both ends of the floor,” Kidd said. “Especially with the new guys, it’s about understanding where they need to be and how they fit into our system.”
Observations from Monday’s Practice
The Mavericks continued to do extensive developmental work with Dereck Lively II, with the help of assistant coach Sean Sweeney and former NBA player Tyson Chandler. Part of their workout included securing offensive rebounds and quickly working on the post-up attempt to get into a hook shot with both hands.
Lively worked on drop steps and fake drop steps with Chandler and Sweeney. The team has worked closely on getting his approach and touch well. The attention to detail on footwork for drop steps has been a focus. They’ve also focused on selling the drop step to set up an inside move into a hook. Thompson recently expressed confidence to Dallas Hoops Journal regarding Lively’s ability to punish switches in the post and described his ability to make jump hooks as a “lost art.” If Lively consistently executes in the post, it’ll open up the offense further.
Another priority with Lively seemed to be his positioning as the big defender in pick-and-roll when guarding 2-with-1 on the drive to avoid committing to the ball handler too early. When this happens, the big defender can become vulnerable to giving up a wraparound pass. Taking the proper angle and getting vertical can neutralize the potential pass while making a finish attempt challenging.
Chandler was very hands-on with Lively’s workout. Chandler provided additional insight into defensive positioning as a rim protector when handling that 2-with-1 drive. Lively is very responsive to Sweeney and Chandler when they give him feedback. It’s easy to see why Lively continues to progress in his development.
Thompson put in a lot of extra work going through a routine that included catch-and-shoot jumpers and playing out of shot fakes. He appears very motivated to have a strong start to the season after a poor shooting preseason. He averaged 7.0 points in 19.0 minutes per game and shot 24.1% overall and 33.3% from beyond the arc.
Dončić continued to work extensively on his catch-and-shoot jump shot. His consistency in these attempts has continued to be impressive based on the sample reporters have been allowed to observe. He seems to emphasize these shots in his workouts. Perhaps a continued willingness to take them will be something to watch.
Watching Irving on the court is always entertaining, especially when trying creative finishes in a light-hearted setting with assistant coach God Shammgod and Darrell Armstrong. One gem was his two-foot finish involving slapping the backboard.
Frank Vogel, a hired coaching consultant, attended Monday’s practice and frequently shared his observations. He was with the Mavericks in Los Angeles during the loss against the Clippers. As someone Kidd highly respects and won a championship under as an assistant coach with the Lakers, Vogel could provide a valuable presence.
Spencer Dinwiddie struggled in preseason, with most of his offensive plays coming in pick-and-roll. He generated only 0.647 points per possession in that action. He’s frequently worked on variations of ball screen approaches with assistant coach Jared Dudley in pre-game workouts and at the practice facility, whether taking pull-up jumpers, snaking the screen, or trying to perfect his scoop finish.
Team Bonding Has Proven Instrumental
Irving, who has been at the heart of the Mavericks’ communication efforts, spoke highly of Thompson’s integration and what it means for the team.
“It’s great. I don’t take it for granted at all,” Irving said. “He’s such a special talent and an even better person. It’s definitely a luxury to have someone like him around, and I appreciate it every day.”
Irving emphasized the importance of building relationships on and off the court. The team visited his house in Los Angeles while they were on the road before facing the Clippers. The team has embraced building these bonds, even if it’s not characteristic of the average NBA team.
“The little things matter when you’re trying to build chemistry,” he said. “When someone invites you to their place or home, it’s a big gesture. Not everyone is that open, especially in our league. This training camp has been about being intentional, whether on or off the court, just making sure we’re there for each other.”
Preparing for the Spurs
The Mavericks are aware of the challenges the Spurs and Victor Wembanyama present, but Kidd clarified that the focus remains on internal development. With the luxury of not having their first game until Thursday, the team has taken advantage of the extra time to solidify their game plan and rotations.
“Right now, it’s still about us,” Kidd said. “We’ll start discussing San Antonio more specifically in the next couple of days. Today was about pace, chemistry, and figuring out those combinations that work best.”
Irving expressed optimism about the Mavericks’ current state as they address minor details, work through new sets, and enhance the chemistry between players. He believes this preparation will help the Mavericks hit the ground running as they begin a demanding 82-game schedule.
“We’re in a great place right now. A lot of us are motivated, focused, and driven. We have our priorities straight and are ready for another long journey,” he said. “The most important thing for us is staying healthy, doing everything we can on off days to prepare, ramping up our film study, and keeping that communication strong.”
Looking Ahead
With just a few days left before the regular season tips off, the Mavericks are honing in on the final details. Kidd and the coaching staff are optimistic about the team’s progress, particularly in building relationships on the floor. The competition in practice, the attention to defensive schemes, and the continued integration of players like Thompson have all been positive.
“We’re in a good place,” Kidd said. “We’ve got a lot of new faces, but the way they’ve come together has been great. The focus is on bringing that energy and chemistry into the regular season, and I’m excited to see how it plays out.”
The Mavericks will look to carry the momentum from their high-intensity practices into Thursday’s opener against the Spurs. The on-court connection between Thompson and Dončić will play a crucial role in their offense this season, and the potential for what they can achieve has been displayed in the practice facility.
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