Lakers’ Maxi Kleber sidelined at least two weeks with oblique strain
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The Los Angeles Lakers will begin the 2025-26 season without backup big man Maxi Kleber, who suffered a left oblique strain and will be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks, the team said Tuesday.
Kleber, 33, arrived from the Dallas Mavericks in February as part of the trade that sent Luka Doncic to Los Angeles. At the time of the deal, the 6-foot-10, 240-pound forward-center was already recovering from surgery to repair a fracture in his right foot, an injury that kept him out for the remainder of the regular season. He logged only five minutes in Game 5 of the Lakers’ first-round playoff loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Health issues followed Kleber into the fall. A quadriceps strain early in training camp limited him to one appearance in six preseason games, when he totaled three points, two rebounds, two turnovers and four fouls in 10 minutes against the Sacramento Kings. Speaking last week, Kleber said the setbacks have been “frustrating” after the work he put in during the offseason, but added that he can only continue to rehab and prepare for his return.
Now entering his ninth NBA season, the German veteran owns career averages of 6.4 points and 4.4 rebounds while shooting 35.4 percent from three-point range.
With Kleber unavailable, newly acquired center Deandre Ayton will start Tuesday night against the Golden State Warriors, and Jaxson Hayes is expected to serve as the primary reserve despite bruising his wrist in the preseason finale versus Sacramento.
Los Angeles will also be without LeBron James (sciatica) and rookie forward Adou Thiero (left knee surgery recovery) for the opener. James, missing opening night for the first time in his 23-year career, is scheduled for another evaluation in one to two weeks.
Source: ESPN
