Retired NBA champion Jason Williams isn’t blaming Klay Thompson’s poor shooting for the Mavericks star’s benching in Dallas. Nor is the former Sacramento Kings and Miami Heat star pointing to Thompson’s recent injury history or the aging swingman’s defensive struggles to explain the move.
No, the 49-year-old Williams suspects Thompson’s real problem is his girlfriend, rapper Megan Thee Stallion.
‘I’m from West Virginia, man, I’ve been taught a lot from old folks, old white folks,’ Williams said on the Hoopin’ N Hollering’ podcast. ‘It only takes one p**** to drag a battleship across the desert. That’s how powerful it is.’
Williams stopped short of likening the 30-year-old rapper to the ‘face that launched a thousand ships,’ Homer’s Helen of Troy, but he refused to rule out her presence as a factor.
‘Klay Thompson, I ain’t sayin’ that’s what it is,’ Williams added, ‘but that might be what it is.’
The son of former NBA player Mychal Thompson, Klay and rapper born Megan Jovon Ruth Pete officially announced their relationship to the public over the summer and have since been one of America’s most identifiable celebrity couples.
A recent Instagram post of hers indicating she and Thompson were moving in together garnered more than 2 million ‘likes’ online and Megan recently dropped a single, ‘Lover Girl,’ which she dedicated to her boyfriend.
Megan Thee Stallion and Klay Thompson are seen on July 16, 2025 in New York City
Jason Williams (in blue) believes Megan Thee Stallion’s presence is hurting Klay Thompson
Megan Thee Stallion made her first courtside appearance as an NBA WAG last month
But while he’s enjoying himself off the court, Thompson’s been struggling mightily on the hardwood.
He’s currently shooting just 31.4 percent from the field and 26.7 percent from 3-point range, both of which would be career lows if he fails to improve those marks this season.
As a result, head coach Jason Kidd has given Thompson’s minutes to veteran combo guard D’Angelo Russell for 3-8 Dallas.
Thompson is now 35 and has previously suffered a torn ACL in his left knee as well as a ruptured right Achilles tendon. And given the fact he’s played more than 1,000 regular season and playoff games, his rapid deterioration hasn’t been a total surprise.
He was a coveted free agent just a few years ago and reportedly had a chance to go to the Los Angeles Lakers on a four-year, $80 million deal, but chose to sign in Dallas for the chance to play with Luka Doncic, according to The Athletic.
Doncic was then famously traded to the Lakers last season.
Although he won an NBA title starting alongside Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O’Neal in Miami, Williams is best remembered for his years with the Sacramento Kings. One of the most exciting passers in NBA history, Williams ultimately retired in 2011 following his second stint with the Memphis Grizzlies.
