Los Angeles Lakers forward Maxi Kleber will be sidelined for at least five days after being diagnosed with a lumbar back strain, head coach JJ Redick told reporters on Tuesday.
Redick said Kleber has been “shut down” and did not travel with the team at the start of its six-game road trip. The earliest possible return date is next Monday, when the Lakers face the Detroit Pistons. If cleared, Kleber would also be eligible to play two days later against the Indiana Pacers, the final contest of the trip.
Kleber, 34, has appeared sparingly in his first full season with Los Angeles but has filled in when injuries have thinned the frontcourt rotation. Redick has primarily relied on Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes at center, occasionally turning to small-ball lineups when additional size is unavailable.
The veteran big man has already missed the opening game of the trip, a matchup with the Houston Rockets. Team officials do not consider the back issue serious, yet his status will remain under evaluation throughout the week.
Despite limited minutes, Kleber has drawn praise from Redick, who labeled him a “winning player” appreciated by teammates. The German forward has said he feels that support whenever he is on the floor.
Source: LakersNation.com
