LOS ANGELES — Head coach JJ Redick applauded forward Maxi Kleber after the Los Angeles Lakers’ 129-101 victory over the Sacramento Kings on March 1, 2026, highlighting the veteran’s reliability and popularity inside the locker room.
Kleber logged just 13 minutes at Crypto.com Arena but converted all three field-goal attempts, finishing with six points, six rebounds and one block. Despite a mostly healthy roster that has limited his playing time this season, Redick again turned to the 34-year-old for an energy boost.
“He just plays winning basketball, very unselfish and selfless,” Redick said postgame. “His teammates love him. It’s easy to root for his success.” The coach added that injuries have tempered Kleber’s athleticism since his peak seasons in Dallas, yet he continues to stay prepared whenever called upon.
The German forward supplied two highlight-reel dunks, including a poster finish over center Precious Achiuwa, sparking a loud reaction from the Lakers’ bench. “Those plays give your group some spirit,” Redick noted, pointing to Kleber’s screening, rolling and offensive rebounding as additional factors in the second-quarter surge.
With the postseason approaching, Redick acknowledged that his rotation will likely shrink, but said Kleber’s steady production keeps him in the conversation for critical minutes.
Guard Luka Dončić delivered another viral moment late in the blowout, burying a falling-away three-pointer he jokingly described as a planned “slip,” a sequence teammates dubbed an And-1 Mixtape play.
The win moved Los Angeles to 42-18 as the team continues its push toward playoff seeding.
Source: Lakers Nation
