Lakers or Mavericks? Stephen A. & Shannon’s HOT DEBATE over Klay Thompson’s future | First Take

On First Take, Stephen A. Smith, Brian Windhorst and Shannon Sharpe debate whether the Los Angeles Lakers or Dallas Mavericks is the better option for Klay Thompson to win another NBA Title.
☑️ Subscribe to ESPN+: plus.espn.com/
📱Get the ESPN App: www.espn.com/es...
🏀 Subscribe to NBA on ESPN on KZbin: bit.ly/2yxs3Og
☑️Subscribe to ESPN on KZbin: es.pn/SUBSCRIBE...
☑️Watch ESPN on KZbin TV: es.pn/KZbinTV

[@elijahguerrero1490]

Who’s here after he signed with Dallas ?

[@joemagwood9130]

I'm here 😂😂😂

[@chrischan6211]

Dallas should have gone after Bogdan Bogdanovic. Seriously, they just replaced THJ with basically another THJ (at this point in his career).

[@Henrique-wy6cv]

​@@chrischan6211i can promise you that klay would not miss the amount of threes that dallas role players misses in the finals

[@chrischan6211]

@@Henrique-wy6cv have you not been watching him? He's THJ for 5 games, then he'll have a good one. Everyone will say he's back, then he's THJ again for the next 5-8 games.

[@tyreepowell8367]

Me

[@MrKGuy9]

Dallas didn’t avoid Denver Denver lost to a team which stopped them being No.1 in the West

[@bo0gi3]

they don’t want it discussed like this tho , smh

[@pedrotauzen]

A few years ago, people were suggesting the Lakers avoided the Clippers

[@jasoncalder4563]

yes they did. They let OKC beat them and get the number one seed in the last game of the season. This allowed them to not play Denver until the conference final.

[@badillo280]

@@jasoncalder4563we still would of beat them look want we did to the wolves

[@pine7779]

@@jasoncalder4563they let okc win because the mavs were locked in the fifth seed and were resting starters

[@atraina6921]

Shannon : We getting to the Western Conference with Step.. I mean with Klay. 😂😂😂

[@colincrow1801]

We'd win every year if it was steph lol

[@Rushking20]

Theyd def get their with steph

[@JonCrook-oz1pt]

Steph AD and Lbj that's a slaughter 😂

[@sexyhotsiren7118]

😂😂😂😂😂 rite 🤣

[@liljr1605]

Who’s here after Klay got signed to the mavericks🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@PerceptionVsReality]

Windy is right yall sound crazy

[@tonydegante7449]

He’s just salty 😂

[@jenolez1143]

They're flip floppers

[@elite_tj94]

No he not, mavs ain’t better than lakers on a talent based view , you add klay with Bron and AD it’s a wrap, instead of with Luka ain’t really gonna he that beneficial, just cause they went to finals don’t mean it’ll more beneficial, stop the cap

[@elite_tj94]

Bruh in the middle is wack af with the Laker hate

[@donnough2085]

Dallas wont be back in the Finals next year.. Im willing to bet on it

[@zerohour7376]

BREAKING: Klay Thompson has agreed on a three-year, $50 million deal with the Dallas Mavericks.

[@sexyhotsiren7118]

Yup

[@TheTruth-mc1yi]

That’s horrible cause Luka is too ball dominate and he won’t be able to catch fire 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@kaelawen6597]

​@@TheTruth-mc1yi I get where you're coming from, but we don't need him to catch fire. We just need him to be consistent. If he does that, keeps injuries to a minimum and plays defense, he'll be just fine in Dallas. At the minimum, he'll be just as fine as if he went to the Lakers where he could be caught into being the only other person making 3's consistently which makes it easier to predict.

[@anthonyslazas6413]

Glad to see he's avoiding the dumpster fire in LA

[@LiBingBong]

Klay is maximizing his money & heading to DAL

[@jdubz_11]

He took less money to go to DAL

[@randomuruk7230]

​@@jdubz_11do you know what tax is?

[@kelvinlee7351]

@@randomuruk7230 that's still lower than 2 years 48 mil which is what GS offered

[@ericsong5155]

@@kelvinlee7351 GS offered that last year and Klay declined that. He didn't play well this year and that offer is off the table. People acting like GS offered Klay 48/2 today lmao

[@kelvinlee7351]

@@ericsong5155 Well that's on Klay for not taking that offer right?

[@HLDN1989]

As a Mavericks fan Klay to Dallas is exactly what the club needs. He adds shooting and championship experience to a winning team (WCF in 2022, and the NBA finals in 2024). Playing next to Luka, Kyrie and Dereck Lively he's also going to get a tonne of open shots.

[@nickjones5495]

The last thing Klay should do is leave Golden State, a ball movement oriented team, to Dallas who averages 2 passes per possession with Luka running the show

[@5harkbyte460]

@@nickjones5495 That system got them to the Finals and all those open looks that MAVS roster bricked would’ve instead went to Klay, but go off.

[@vinrab8473]

Hell no! Lakers is the team for klay

[@Uptzay]

hell na no defense on that squad

[@jtennyson51]

​@@vinrab8473Lakers are too old.

[@jacobmcklowski4428]

Oh look, the biased Lakers fan thinks Klay can win a championship with the Lakers. Who would've thought.

[@afifsamirnasreddine3768]

Grow up.

[@Jasonj0303]

Well, at least he'd be on a team with an all time passer...not an all time dancer

[@fatlindjashari7342]

Cry

[@troyturner2646]

This comment gone age horribly

[@diondupreejr4941]

Who your favorite team

[@DaCleva1]

Klay should go to the Mavs

[@bo0gi3]

it’s obvious , only the media and Lakers fans think that’s a better decision for him

[@345power6]

No

[@itskay3121]

He did

[@quentinjones6877]

Just did

[@DaCleva1]

@@quentinjones6877 👍👍

[@Streets3544]

SAS and Shannon don’t want him in Dallas. You can tell by the way they speak. He fits better with us.

[@Chosenonetv23]

He fits perfectly with both

[@KYS0824]

Dallas issue isn't shooting Dallas issue is size

[@ThatDoesntWorkForMeBrother]

I don’t want Klay in Dallas, I want him in LA.

[@gdgjjjkkk]

He doesn’t fit better in that daycare of an organization run by 1 player and his podcast partner, lakers not winning shi. Lakers be tryna sign everybody shi pathetic

[@JetSetAnime]

@@gdgjjjkkk How dare the Lakers try and improve their team! 😅

[@Brens23]

SAS saying luka is a ball hog when the dude puts his teammates in open 3 positions more than a dozen times a game , he literally averages 10 assists

[@Issaacson]

Yeah that's such dead they keep beating to death it's not even funny.

[@Issaacson]

*horse

[@sasquatch7234]

I know it's impossible to watch every NBA game, but I'm really wondering if these media personnel even watch more than a dozen games a season.

[@rabd3721]

And he would've had way more assists in the Finals if teammates actually hit their freakin shots.

[@BalorDevitt]

you can tell shannon didn’t believe a thing he just said 😂

[@junebugtrippin]

Don’t do it Klay ….it’s a circus now don't do it damar its still a circus

[@KatDaddy313]

No. That's your household.

[@junebugtrippin]

@@KatDaddy313 …. Y u mad….chump

[@junebugtrippin]

@@KatDaddy313y u mad ….chump

[@bottumthedreamer8735]

Didn’t Klay play with the guy that clocked Jordan Poole. That was a circus if I ever saw it

[@nnotof3218]

A circus? What is it then on the team he's running from?

[@rainshower3173]

If Klay is going to sign with Mavs, Kidd should tweek his heavy iso tactics. And Luka needs to run a little faster. But definitely Luka will feast on outlet passes with Klay. Kyrie also needs to improve his off-ball role

[@cameronjohnson2146]

Luka needs to get off the ball and be able to work off ball in the offense. He also will need to play better defensively due to the fact djj isn’t there to protect him

[@mrspiff6955]

Will be difficult for Luka to be moving around setting screens like the Warriors do to create open shots. Luka is the laziest player in the NBA.

[@bakedizzle24]

top 10 paced offense last season bozo lol watch the games

[@jarrettharper2906]

That just means it wouldn’t work. You’re asking players who have done pretty well playing their way to do something completely different.

[@nickjones5495]

​@@bakedizzle24cause of Kyrie. Watch games

[@nehemiahstewart]

Okay Windy 😂😂

[@Gwaniegwan]

Standing on business 😂

[@famouslee6154]

Mavs tbh but I only assume he would go to la cause it’s home in it’s a move but Dallas he basically taking this personal to warriors front office

[@Travis89-ob5tt]

Somehow a team that got gentleman swept in round 1 is better than the team that made it to the finals? 😆

[@RL-ww5ev]

Well if you ask MJ fans it is. That's why LeBron gets heat for losing in the finals let MJ made less finals

[@HarryPNass7]

As a Warriors fan, I rather our organization trade our boy to Dallas instead of LA.

[@ShinefortheCam]

Same thing with why the Clippers didn't want to trade paul George to the warriors. Clippers were smart for not doing that. Rather get nothing than help you b1tches

[@danielrivadeneiraalvear3091]

Windy bodied them two charlatans 😅😅😅😅

[@DIGITAL7Media]

As a die hard and life long Laker fan.... I'm patiently waiting until we have a James-less team. I miss watching team basketball. There's no way a man of his age should be leading the team in minutes.

[@RL-ww5ev]

Like the team basketball that won titles after Kobe left and LBJ arrived? When LeBron leaves Lakers go back to lottery picks

[@JB11847]

You sound crazy! Before LBJ came yall were having worst records in league & picking Lonzo Ball at #2 lol. When Lebron leave so will AD & Lakers will be 1 of the worst in the league

[@Xenamos]

You should be ashamed to call yourself a lifelong fan and say this at the same time. Lakers would be nothing right now without Lebron, and he is one of if not the greatest facilitators in the history of NBA. Team Basketball lol

[@vulcanraven9701]

@@Xenamos eh. lakers are nothing without AD. they are a lottery team with lebron only

[@GooniesNeverSayDie1980]

If Klay does not go to the Lakers, Shannon will down play Klay's entire career, just like Shay does with every other player who decides not to help LeBron, 1 minute it's praise, the next, he is trash.

[@gameplayer1980]

Recency bias here. Klay actually shot very well in the regular season.

[@kobekobe8527]

Shannon was smoking some good Cali weed before the show he said them boys going to the finals 🤣

[@elite_tj94]

@@kobekobe8527 western conference finals he said , 7 idiots liked your comment tho so congrats to you

[@Gwaniegwan]

@@elite_tj94Mann lawd ppl just be yapping

[@elite_tj94]

@@Gwaniegwan majority of people with no brain

[@Antonio-0187]

Man if the lakers had role players step up and be consistent would of been in finals last two years

[@Drewswaggy]

@@Antonio-0187lebron plays no defense and stat pads because he’s a IQ player…. He’s all time great. But it’s 2024. He’s 40!!!

[@oocinom]

Luka get’s tripled teamed, Kyrie get’s double teamed, Lively is a 20 yr old top 10 center in todays league. Who’s the better team now again?

[@bo0gi3]

SAS : Lakers talent wise Shannon : Lakers no doubt. Non-Lakers fans: Mavericks.

[@danmoreman954]

Once again, Stephan A Smith is just wrong. Luka was second in the league in assists last year and Smith calls him a ball hog? Really? I wish Smith knew a little more about what he’s saying.

[@VikCain]

They need better writers here, some of their points are not believable. It's not that this has more in common with pro-wrestling than with journalism, it's bad pro-wrestling. Tide up your "Opinions" c'mon!

[@JesseUrenda]

As a laker fan this is annoying. The Mavs are a better fit for Klay end of story. The lake show drafting Bronny and a rookie HC is not exactly very intriguing to a lot of A-list free agents

[@falbasu]

BREAKING: KLAY GOING TO THE MAVS FOR 50K 3 YEARS!!!

[@edgarmancenido6045]

Shay is a Lebron cronie. The Mavs are a younger with the next league MVP (Luka) and just a shooter short of a ‘chip. Klay will fill that shooter spot.

[@MrChaseBlue]

Dallas was intentionally trying to avoid the Nuggets. False! The Nuggets shockingly lost to the Spurs right at the end. That’s why we failed to get a 2nd round matchup between Jokic and Luka

[@kes9298]

Stephen A completely made up that statement. The mavs did not try to avoid Denver.

[@jsanders9975]

Mavericks would be nice

[@manegrindshard]

The amount of defending in favor of the lakers even though it makes no sense is crazy. The easy answer is the mavs

[@bo0gi3]

Windy embarrassed Shannon and exposed his obvious bias. You can just tell SAS and Sharpe don’t want Klay in Dallas.

[@TrentonJohnsonJr-ip9zh]

What does Shannon mean we! He’s not even a Lakers fan. He just likes the Lakers because his boyfriend LeBron is on the team.

[@intothefrayyo]

Here before these clowns complain that LBJ always "needs more help" meanwhile every other team is looking to add additional help for their respective team 😐

[@keenannorris3309]

they live to hate LeBron. Their rules only apply to LeBron. They don't have a problem with any other player in the league getting help (i.e., simply being active in free agency)

[@bigballer6666]

@@keenannorris3309no other player in the league calls themselves the GOAT and also runs their whole franchise

[@19934]

😂😂😂😂 exactly i don’t get it fam! They want bron to do it by himself but everybody else can get whomever

[@vincentbelden2691]

As a knicks fan I think if you allow a player to enter free agency that means you couldn't extend there contract and you don't want them on your team

[@vincentbelden2691]

And is exactly why team wind up paying way more getting players back off the market

[@statpadford]

Please no more Molly. This show is wayyy better without her

[@IM-NOT-A-BOT-USA]

DONT LEAVE US KLAY!!! 😢

[@joejenkity1704]

Luka and kyrie are a better duo than ad and lebron lol

[@FergJ86]

I wish Klay would stop acting like he’s a top tier player and choose someone

[@lonzorutlandjr.4536]

His best days are behind him that’s why the Warriors didn’t care about him leaving

[@donovanshannon1234]

He's earned the right to be in this position to choose

[@lonzorutlandjr.4536]

@@donovanshannon1234according to who…because he wanted to get paid like Steph but Steph still balling out

[@donovanshannon1234]

@lonzorutlandjr.4536 he wasn't worried bout steph's money, he worried bout his own bag to be compensated fairly, like I said before he earned the right

[@lonzorutlandjr.4536]

@@donovanshannon1234 ok we’ll see when the season starts but I’m sure if he was the old Klay the warriors would’ve paid him like they always have

[@TheAmbassadorOfQuan]

windy only person not high here.

[@krystalissoojung5114]

REALLY SAS?? 07:00 you said that Dallas intentionally avoid Nuggets in the playoff??? you must be drunk 😂😂😂

[@jayc5756]

Im rooting for the Lakers, but if they really trade DLo for Klay....then they deserve to lose. FR. IJS

[@CoolTy23]

Klay, Kyrie, Luka = the worst defensive trio in the league

[@catcusnate2804]

Djj is not that much better on D then klay but klay is way better offensive player and mavs signed a defender yesterday so klay kyrie luka the spacing would be unstoppable

[@Andy-qf8ps]

They signed 2 defensive players in the last 4 days, they’ll be alright

[@gdgjjjkkk]

They just signed Naji Marshall one of the best 3 n D players in the league, try again

[@GHMuss]

Y’all said that about Luka and kyrie, and they made the finals beating the “best defensive team” in the wolves, Points and offense win playoff games

[@nicholasrouse-xw6cc]

Lol facts

[@jaysantos1425]

Stephen A and Shannon the worst "ANALYST" ever 😂😂😂 you guys ARE A JOKE!!! NBA ON TNT the best analyst ever!!!

[@kennethgraves8028]

Klay was smart in his decision, For those who can't comprehend! Especially the Media' Klay was not going to risks the rest of his career at 34 yrs old, Having to SPLIT Time with BRONNY JAMES! His Dad is going to force them to play him so he can make history! Klay was smarter than that! Great Move Klay

[@AxelWok]

TIM HARDAWAY IS THE REAL PERSON WHO LOST...

[@Yeahight11208]

This shows how Shay Shay being su(king off LBJ no way the Lakers is the better fit for Klay Thompson his argument makes no sense Klay Thompson will get more open shots playing with Luka and Kyrie Irving

[@jpnoy]

One team is a circus of drama and other team chokes on a big stage

[@aquintaancrum4606]

THE MAVERICKS IS A BETTER TEAM FOR Klay Alexander Thompson!

[@shahidmufti795]

Lakers winning a Championship????? At what, water polo?

[@Pickleandrepeat]

teams DO NOT DOUBLE lebron lol.. i dont even remember the last time anyone did hes so old now.

[@TrentonJohnsonJr-ip9zh]

It’ll be so hilarious to see LeBron take a pay cut and the Lakers still get nothing. 😂😂😂😂

[@JohnnySack16]

Why would anyone go to the lakers lol… terrible position to put yourself in

[@Dr._Wan___PharmD]

Klay, please don't come to LA because you're overrated.

[@attinger117]

Whatever team gets Klay better hope he shoots better than he did for the warriors the last few years.

[@bryantwilliams647]

You Lebron Laker Fans Are Sad & Delusional 😅

[@deetee5316]

Windy was right here after Klay signs with Dallas

[@Rio909ONT]

All basketball takes from Shannon is bias.

[@honeyybunclub]

Klay getting open 3s all day with the Mavs

[@EdmonNijmeh-d6p]

lol mavericks hype is crazy, went through clippers team that was injured, got all the calls against okc including a foul call end of the game to avoid game 7, and caught a young t-wolves team ahead of themselves.Lakers lost to the nuggets by shooting themselves in the foot, like it took 2 game winners imo lakers would've went to finals if they didn't kill themselves.

[@TreyJaySoSway]

Lakers definitely choked every game against the Nuggets. 2023 and 2024 playoffs smh

[@plavalaguna950]

Shenon go back to skip show😂😂😂

[@jp23x]

He'll be criticized more with the lakers than the warriors haha

[@priinceek]

I’m watching this and he just signed to the Mavs 😭💀

[@fadlchoughari8904]

Didn’t the lakers barely avoid the play in tournament

[@sosatownsend1751]

Dallas got way better chances wit klay lakers gone get klay put out da first or play in

[@tjsmith3046]

Dallas is overrated dummy 😂

[@jaysmith61]

He should go to Orlando

[@felixhug6503]

Dallas is the better team and everything SA said about the Lakers is true about Dallas. Klay will get wide open shots with Luka. Luka reads the floor as well as LBJ. They lost because they couldnt score in the Finals, not because of defence. Either way, happy Klay is leaving but both of these teams would be great for him.

[@bebes-q2t]

Luka is a ball hog

[@rodericksasu6976]

​@@bebes-q2t And what is Lebron? Lol

[@goatjames2892]

@@rodericksasu6976 How much could Kyrie score with Lebron in the finals and how much could he with Luka. There's your answer. Thank you

[@youngjuice92]

​@goatjames2892 you must've been in a coma & didn't watch how Kyrie played in Boston

[@nickjones5495]

The absolutely lost because of defense. Lukas defense to be exact

[@-hunt-6225]

I waited for the Luka disrespect and it surely came lol. Most hated player by the media there is and I wonder why 👴🏻

[@Riqueee24]

That’s bs luka is the most protected player they don’t criticize him bout his game it’s only when he complains to the refs

[@love_cuteme8314]

Klay to to mavs

[@onlyy1trav]

Teejay - Wassup OUT NOW‼️

[@plavalaguna950]

Lets goo MAVS❤

[@darkolazo6177]

I love shannon but every point he made can be made for dallas too

[@JB11847]

Klay not getting up no shots playing with Luka & Kyrie lol…..Kyrie even was cooking 1 night in playoffs & Luka patted the ball & took numerous shots ignoring he was hot

[@GEAalerts]

Keep lying to yourself bud look at the finals a lot open threes and no of them were knock down cuz nobody on the mavs had no experience making big time shots add klay to that team they going back if he healthy

[@manegrindshard]

Dallas didnt avoid denver the nuggets lost thier top spot at the end of the season by losing and thats just where they fell. Mavs ended the season winning games

[@kevinjoves3514]

Mavs avoided Denver? They didn't intentionally lose to match LAC. They won their games and got to 5th. DAL beat the team that beat Denver. Bad take SAS.

[@Sam-un5km]

Stop it Klay so washed up

[@GearWave]

Okay gotta show me something consistent.....the majority of his contract would be incentive based.

[@mrmaxxx94]

Klay with dallas would be sick and makes the most sense. However the lebron slurpfest wants this agenda 🤔

[@drunktake]

ESPN gotta stop this Laker BS..geez..I hope Klay goes to Dallas

[@globalliferecordstv7134]

From Klay unfollowed the Warriors I knew he’s OUT 😮

[@_KITE]

Dang.. so Klay is not going to retire a Warrior. It's completely over.

[@reggiewilliams6357]

Luka creates the most open 3s in the NBA, WTH is SAS talking about

[@skymav6]

I don't think what Shannon says is crazy. The Nuggets would have beaten aby team but Minnesota. If the Lakers had the Mavs path it's a high possibility, they would have been to the finals too.

[@MadSUPANOVA]

Rule #1. Your old on your way out- I AIN'T SLASHIMG MY EARNINGS 😊 SCREW THAT. YOU WILL NEVER SEE PAY LIKE THAT AGAIN AFTER THE NBA

[@militantprophecychannel6966]

Clay would have a legit chance of winning another ring in Dallas. ESPN presenting the Lakers as a legit title contender is for "entertainment purposes only" It's not real!!😂

[@notacat7127]

He needs to be in Boston

[@StuntmanBeatz313]

Western Conference champs??? Cmon unk… is too obvious

[@Stonecoldalston]

2:14 okay just because they won the west don’t mean they’ll do it again next year Denver won the finals and lost in the second round the next year and it’s not like the lakers wasn’t just in the conference finals the year before last year

[@Thisisrance]

The mavs got better role players and added Klay 😂

[@Quanny_clips]

Tbh I hope the Mavs run into the Denver nuggets cuz that’s a bad match up nuggets gone do them dirty

[@Bondzilla985]

Stephen A keep disrespecting Detroit. 🤦🏾‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️

[@FredrickPrice]

Klay going the Mavs will definitely increase Mavs fire power and ammunition i'm just concerned about what their defense will be like ......

[@nwolisarapuru9537]

SAS is funny, Tim hardawary going from western con finals to Detroit (basketball purgatory)😂😂😂😂

[@TrueProphit]

They have a hate for Lebron he ain’t going to lakers

[@shaleekashford3889]

But their not starting from the bottom their starting from the Champion level well said Brian

[@lmalbrue]

Mavericks overachieved this season. They're not getting back to the finals. Especially not with skinny fat version of Luka.

[@CoachRJ334]

Luka isn't a ball hog he's ball dominant usage rate is too high

[@Kids-mb2df]

Luka takes a lot of 3s but he also generated more Wide Open and Very Wide Open opportunities than anybody else in the league last year, by a wide margin (+100). Klay is gonna get all of the THJ, DJJ, Green opportunities. He’ll have plenty of touches.

[@jayboykin28]

These frauds will say anything lol come on guys your just laker fans .....