Maxi Kleber Injury Update
Maxi Kleber’s latest injury is, thankfully, not the kind that makes Lakers fans hold their breath for weeks. He tweaked his quad during a preseason practice, a move that sounds innocuous, but for guys north of thirty and with his soft-tissue history, “tweaked” never feels like a minor word anymore. The word from JJ Redick is realism: Kleber will miss a few days, including the Suns opener, and the team’s being extra cautious about his comeback.
On Twitter, @LegionHoops reported (via @DanWoikeSports) that the Lakers are hopeful Maxi Kleber’s quad injury from practice yesterday is not serious.
So, no headline drama, but if you’re a Lakers optimist, it’s a bit like finding out your favourite backpack survived the rain with only a damp patch. MRI scans showed no real damage, which is a relief both for Maxi and for fans who still haven’t recovered from the shock of that Luka Doncic trade. I sometimes forget that Kleber was supposed to be a simple throw-in; now he’s the sort of player who gets his own micro-updates from knowledgeable reporters. Feels funny, but it’s also a testament to NBA fandom: we care about even the smallest developments as if they’re cliffhangers in a binge-worthy show.
On Twitter, @LakersDailyCom shared an injury update: Maxi Kleber has a minor quad issue and will be out for a few days, per J.J. Redick. The Lakers are taking a cautious approach, according to @jovanbuha.
Still, the Lakers are running with a threadbare frontcourt. It’s not like they’re deciding between Shaq and Kareem for those backup center minutes; they’ve got Deandre Ayton still finding his rhythm, Jackson Hayes as the “by default” guy for now, and Kleber’s pick-and-pop habit sorely missed. If you’ve ever found yourself rooting for a guy because he hustles for every loose ball, Kleber’s your man. One buddy of mine swore that he’d seen Maxi do a pick-and-roll so beautifully with Doncic that it convinced him to draft a long shot in fantasy basketball last season just for those moments. Doesn’t always work out, but hey, the hope is half the fun.
Injuries can mess with the rhythm of a whole team, especially when you’re waiting for that preseason “clean slate” feeling to hit. Maxi will likely be back next week unless things go sideways, so people shouldn’t start stashing him on IR spots too fast. At least it’s not déjà vu of last season’s drama (foot surgery, five miserable playoff minutes… it was rough).
In sum, there’s no huge alarm here. Just a cautionary pause, plenty of crossed fingers, and a reminder that in sports, sometimes minor tweaks and “a few days off” updates matter more than headline trades. Keep an eye on the next practice report, maybe grab an extra coffee, and hope Maxi’s next move isn’t limping off but rolling to the rim again.
