After playing 13 seasons with the Golden State Warriors alongside Stephen Curry and two seasons with the Dallas Mavericks, he witnessed different leadership styles.
The four-time champion recently signed with Miami to join a championship-contending team and now teams up with two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Thompson said that Curry and Antetokounmpo have similar instincts when it comes to their approach as leaders of the team.
“They both have similar impact on the game… I think Giannis can be the third MVP I’ve been able to play with now, which is really cool. His interior scoring is one of the best ever, and his jump shot is greatly improved now. You can’t sag off him like you used to. He will punish you, and he’s just an incredible talent who has a great will to win,” Thompson said during his Heat introductory press conference.
After two seasons with the Mavericks falling short in postseason hopes, the 6-foot-7 sharpshooter finally landed with a roster that could potentially hit a title run this upcoming campaign.
“And I love being around guys like that who leave it all on the floor and really care about their craft. That’s what attracted me too was just like, ‘Wow, I get to play with another MVP-caliber player.’ And that’s rare,” Thompson added.
Thompson’s average decreased after stints with the Warriors, hitting 11.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game, while shooting 39.3% from the field last season with the Mavericks.
