Los Angeles Lakers center Maxi Kleber believes the NBA’s first regular-season contest in Berlin delivered a significant boost to the sport in his home country.
The league staged its inaugural German game on Thursday at Mercedes-Benz Arena, where the Orlando Magic edged the Memphis Grizzlies. Orlando was tapped for the showcase because three key rotation players—Franz Wagner, former Lakers draft pick Moe Wagner and rookie Tristan da Silva—hail from Germany.
Although the Lakers were not selected for the trip, Kleber said the event underscored growing interest in basketball across the nation. “It was great for the game,” he told Spectrum SportsNet. “Fans in Germany are really embracing basketball, and seeing the Wagner brothers play in their hometown made it special.”
The timing prevented Kleber from attending in person; Los Angeles tipped off in California shortly after the final buzzer in Berlin. Numerous German-connected NBA figures did make the journey, including Hall of Famer Dirk Nowitzki, who participated in the broadcast and fan outreach.
Strong ticket demand and an energetic crowd signaled what Kleber called a “real opportunity” for the league to deepen its presence in Germany.
Lakers Fall to Trail Blazers With Kleber in Starting Lineup
Two nights after the Berlin matchup, Lakers head coach JJ Redick inserted Kleber into the starting five against the Portland Trail Blazers as Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes remained sidelined. Los Angeles was out-rebounded 42-27 and dropped the game by 16 points. Kleber finished with 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting and pulled down five boards.
Drew Timme, playing on a two-way contract, chipped in a career-high 21 points in 29 minutes off the bench, surpassing Kleber’s total floor time. The Lakers hope to have at least one of their injured centers available for Sunday’s matchup with the Toronto Raptors.
Source: Lakers Nation
