Pregame jitters are proof Klay Thompson needed a fresh start

Klay Thompson made his preseason debut for the Dallas Mavericks in their 107-102 loss to the Utah Jazz on Thursday. The former Golden State Warriors star struggled shooting the ball, hitting just 3-of-9 from the field, and Dallas has now lost its opening two preseason games.

When speaking to the media as part of his postgame news conference, Thompson admitted to having some pre-game jitters. The veteran sharpshooter also noted that putting on a new uniform felt "amazing."

"I haven’t been that nervous, I don’t think, since the 2015 Finals Game 1," Thompson said. "It felt so good just to go out there and play and work those jitters out. It was a new experience, and it’s a natural feeling when you’ve been somewhere so long and to be somewhere new in a new environment. To finally put the uniform on, it felt amazing."

Thompson has taken himself out of his comfort zone. He's challenging himself to adapt to a new team, which also means learning a new style of play and how to fit next to a different brand of star talent. To begin his tenure with the Mavericks, there will undoubtedly be some teething issues.

Nevertheless, Thompson's nerves prove that he made the right decision. By removing himself from the creature comforts of the Warriors' locker room, he's allowing himself to grow, both as a person and as a player. He is embracing a new chapter in his career, one where he's no longer a top-tier star but an elite role-player capable of swinging a game.

Better shooting nights are undoubtedly around the corner for the four-time NBA champion. Once he figures out how to maximize the gravity of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, Thompson could consistently find himself in space to attack openings off the catch. And that is the role Jason Kidd likely has in mind for the former Splash Brother.

This fresh start could be what squeezes the best out of Thompson over his last few years in the NBA. It's not going to happen overnight, but those nerves will subside, and hopefully, he will approach the game with joy and competitiveness.

If he can harness both of those emotions, he's going to be a major piece in the Mavericks' rotation moving forward.