Lakers: Maxi Kleber out due to injury, Ayton starting against Warriors

Lakers Start the Season with Important Absences in the Paint

The Lakers will be shorthanded in their interior rotation at the start of the season. Maxi Kleber, backup power forward, is suffering an oblique injury and will be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks, according to the team announced this Tuesday. Kleber, who arrived at the Lakers from the Mavericks in February as part of the trade involving Luka Doncic, has dealt with various injuries since his arrival at the Los Angeles team.

Kleber was in the process of recovering from foot surgery when he was traded to the Lakers. The 6-10, 240-pound player missed the rest of the regular season due to this injury, only participating for five minutes in the fifth game of the first-round series against the Timberwolves. During training camp, he suffered a quadriceps injury, which prevented him from playing in almost all preseason games. In the only game he played, against the Kings, he accumulated three points, two rebounds, two turnovers, and four fouls in ten minutes.

“I was very frustrated,” Kleber stated when asked about his quadriceps injury. “I worked hard for something like this to happen. But you can’t always control everything. The only thing I can do is try my best. The same goes for rehabilitation and getting ready for the matches.”

Maxi Kleber

In his nine-year career, Kleber averages 6.4 points and 4.4 rebounds, with 35.4% effectiveness in three-point shots. For the opening game against the Warriors, the Lakers will have Deandre Ayton as the starting center and Jaxson Hayes as the main substitute. Hayes, who suffered a wrist contusion in the last preseason game against the Kings, will be available. LeBron James (sciatica) and rookie Adou Thiero (recovering from left knee surgery) are also ruled out for the game against the Warriors. James, who will miss the opening game for the first time in his 23-year career, will be re-evaluated in approximately 1-2 weeks.