LOS ANGELES — Maxi Kleber reported for Los Angeles Lakers Media Day on September 29, 2025, declaring himself “fully recovered” from the right foot fracture that sidelined him for nearly the entire 2024-25 season.
“I feel fully recovered, fully healthy,” the 6-foot-10 center said at the UCLA Health Training Center. Kleber added that he completed his rehabilitation before focusing on strength and conditioning so he would “be ready to go.”
The 33-year-old joined the Lakers last season in the Luka Doncic trade with the Dallas Mavericks but logged only five minutes, appearing in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals after receiving medical clearance. His last regular-season action came on January 25.
Preseason critical for regaining rhythm
Kleber acknowledged he has played little competitive basketball since the injury and views exhibition games as essential. “It’s important to be back on the court, having basketball workouts, basketball rhythm,” he said. “Getting back into playing within the system and finding that rhythm with teammates will be very helpful.”
Role as a stretch big
At full strength, Kleber offers weak-side rim protection, rebounding and three-point shooting—skills that differ from the other centers on the roster. The Lakers added Deandre Ayton to start at center and re-signed Jaxson Hayes as an energy rim-runner, but head coach JJ Redick is expected to evaluate Kleber’s floor-spacing ability as the team finalizes its rotation.
Kleber averaged 8.1 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting 37.3% from beyond the arc during his most recent full season in Dallas. His familiarity with Doncic could further streamline on-court chemistry as Los Angeles prepares for the 2025-26 campaign.
Source: Lakers Nation
