Klay Thompson Sends Clear Message to Nico Harrison Over Kyrie Irving’s Future as Locker Room Struggle Addressed

Let’s not beat around the bush — Klay Thompson knew exactly what he was doing. After torching the Kings for 23 points and helping the Mavs walk out of the Play-In opener with a 120–106 win, Klay stood in front of the mic and dropped a line that wasn’t just about basketball — it was a message. A message to GM Nico Harrison. A message to everybody watching.

“Obviously, we miss our brother in Kyrie. I mean, we all could imagine what he would do for our team… The sky’s the limit when he’s in the lineup.” That’s not just post-game filler. That’s Klay Thompson advocating for Kyrie Irving’s future in Dallas.

Let’s rewind just a little. This Mavs season has been chaos on wheels: Luka Doncic was traded mid-season. Anthony Davis is now dealing with a potential season-ending injury. The locker room? Man, it’s been more unstable than a Jenga tower on a jet ski.

And then Kyrie Irving goes down on March 3 with a torn ACL against — yep, the same Kings they just beat. Despite being hurt, the dude limped to the line and calmly sank two free throws before leaving. Just a chef’s kiss warrior mentality.

He eventually had surgery on March 26 in New York, and the timeline? He might return around January 2026. That’s a long wait — and a massive decision looms. Kyrie holds a $44 million player option for next season. The Mavericks reportedly want to restructure that into a longer deal (we’re talkin’ 3 years, $150M+), and let’s just say everyone in the league is watching.

But Klay? He’s not hiding where he stands.

Klay’s game was straight out of a movie. The same Kings team that made him go scoreless in last year’s play-in? He roasted them for 16 points in a single quarter, going perfect from the field and drilling four threes in just three minutes. He could’ve dropped the mic right there. But instead?

He pivoted to Kyrie. In front of the cameras. On purpose. The message? “We need this guy.” Not want. Need. And let’s be honest — who better than Klay to say it? This is a dude who’s battled through his own ACL and Achilles injuries, missed two full seasons, and still came back like nothing ever happened. If anyone gets Kyrie’s situation, it’s Klay.

The locker room vibes were hilariously too real

Inside sources (and by that we mean vibes) suggest the locker room has been an emotional rollercoaster. First, Luka dipped. Then AD hit the injury report. Guys were looking at each other like: “Yo… are we cursed?”

There’s been an unspoken “who’s next?” energy floating around. But Klay stepping in mid-season has brought stability. He’s been that veteran voice they didn’t know they needed, and now he’s low-key the locker room glue.

Here’s where things get spicy. Kyrie tweeted for the first time since his injury right after the Mavs beat the Kings — poetic, right? “Yessir @dallasmavs way to handle business tonight!! MFFL Tribe, stay together no matter what.”

That sounds like a guy who still sees himself as part of this team. A guy who wants to run it back when he’s healthy. But business is business. The front office is torn. Can they bet the house on a guy coming off a major injury? Or do they protect the cap and roll with the new core?

Klay made his stance clear. The locker room wants Kyrie back. And if Nico Harrison’s really listening, he might’ve just heard the loudest whisper of the season. In a season full of chaos, injuries, and surprising plot twists, Klay Thompson just made one thing certain: if the Mavericks want to keep their soul intact, they need to bring Kyrie back. Period.

And the best part? That message didn’t come from a boardroom. It came from a brother in the locker room. Klay gets it. Now we’ll see if Nico does too.