Key Highlights
- Maxi Kleber will miss the first two weeks of the 2025-26 NBA regular season due to an oblique strain.
- Kleber’s injury comes as LeBron James is also out for three to four weeks with sciatica, adding depth concerns to the Lakers.
- The Lakers will rely on players like Dončić, Reaves, and Ayton during this period.
- His absence raises questions about how the team will manage without key frontcourt players early in the season.
Injury Update: Maxi Kleber Out for Lakers’ Season-Opening Game
The Los Angeles Lakers announced on Tuesday that reserve big man Maxi Kleber is sidelined with an oblique strain, missing at least the first two weeks of the 2025-26 NBA regular season. This comes as a blow to the team, which is already without superstar forward LeBron James, who has been out for three to four weeks due to sciatica.
Kleber’s absence will significantly affect the Lakers’ frontcourt depth early in the season. The 33-year-old spent parts of his first eight NBA seasons with the Dallas Mavericks before being traded to the Lakers this February as part of a blockbuster deal that sent himself, Luka Dončić, and Markieff Morris to Los Angeles in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick. While Kleber did not appear in any regular-season games last season after being injured at the time of the trade, he played one playoff game, contributing two points in five minutes.
Background on Maxi Kleber
Kleber’s most productive NBA season was 2019-20, when as a 6’10” power forward from Germany, he averaged a career-high 9.1 points per game along with 5.2 rebounds and 1.6 three-pointers made. Over his eight seasons in the league, Kleber has appeared in 440 regular-season games for the Mavs, showcasing averages of 6.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.1 three-pointers made, and 0.9 blocks per contest. He shot 44.3 percent from the field and 35.4 percent from beyond the arc.
Impact on Lakers’ Season
The Lakers will have to navigate a challenging season opener against the Golden State Warriors without two key players early in the campaign. Coach Frank Vogel and management must find ways to balance the team’s depth, ensuring that players like Dončić, Austin Reaves, and Deandre Ayton can step up to fill the void. Frontcourt players such as Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, Jake LaRavia, Jaxson Hayes, and Christian Koloko will also need to contribute more than usual.
The absence of both Kleber and James highlights the challenges facing the Lakers in their quest for a playoff spot in the highly competitive Western Conference. With these key injuries, the team’s focus will likely be on building chemistry among players while managing expectations heading into the new season.
