The Los Angeles Lakers will be without several contributors when they face the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night to kick off the 2025-26 season.
One of those contributors is a recently-acquired 6-foot-10 forward who’s set to miss multiple games due to injury.
“Injury update: Maxi Kleber (oblique strain) will be reevaluated in around 2 weeks,” Spectrum SportsNet Mike Trudell reported Tuesday.
Kleber, like Doncic, likely didn’t expect to represent two franchises last season.
However, the Dallas Mavericks felt the need to shake up their roster before the Feb. 6 trade deadline, trading Kleber, Doncic, and Markieff Morris to the Lakers for Max Christie, Anthony Davis, and a 2029 first-round pick.
Kleber, who averaged 3.0 points and 2.8 rebounds per game with the Mavericks during the first half of the year, didn’t appear in a game with the Lakers following the blockbuster deal due to a lower-body setback.
While Kleber will be inactive to start his first full campaign in Los Angeles, he possesses a skill set that could benefit the Lakers when healthy.
The Wurzburg, Germany native is a solid pick-and-roll/low-post defender and only four seasons removed from a 41.0% three-point shooting performance (he shot 26.5% from deep last year, but has already proven he can be productive as a perimeter shooter in the big leagues).
Hopefully, Kleber returns to action soon and provides stability for the Lakers in the frontcourt.
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