Lakers rule Maxi Kleber out for at least two weeks with oblique strain
lakers-kleber-out-at-least-two-weeks-with-oblique-strain
The Los Angeles Lakers said Tuesday that forward/center Maxi Kleber has a left oblique strain and will be re-evaluated in roughly two weeks, sidelining the 33-year-old for the beginning of the regular season.
Kleber, acquired from Dallas in February as part of the Luka Doncic mega-deal, missed most of last year after breaking his foot in January. He made his Lakers debut in Game 5 of the first-round playoff loss to Minnesota, the club’s final game of the 2024-25 season.
Injuries have continued to follow the veteran big man. A minor quad issue limited him to just one preseason appearance this month, and the new oblique injury is expected to keep him out for at least the first eight games of 2025-26.
When healthy, Kleber has been a reliable rotation piece, averaging 21-27 minutes per contest while appearing in 50-74 games per season for Dallas from 2018-22. Since the start of the 2022-23 campaign, however, he has missed 132 regular-season games and played in 114.
With Kleber unavailable—and with forwards LeBron James and Adou Thiero also set to miss the opener—the Lakers are expected to rely heavily on centers Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes, along with forwards Rui Hachimura and Jarred Vanderbilt. Two-way center Christian Koloko could see early-season minutes as well.
Source: HoopsRumors
