Maxi Kleber has not been a consistent member of the Los Angeles Lakers’ big man rotation this season with Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes ahead of him on the depth chart. But any time head coach JJ Redick has called on him to step in, he has more often than not come through for the team.
That was the case on Thursday night as the Lakers hosted the Philadelphia 76ers. With Hayes serving a one-game suspension, Redick turned to Kleber who finished with four points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals in 26 minutes as the Lakers came back for a 119-115 victory.
Kleber was a team-high +23 on the night and when asked how he stays ready despite his inconsistent role, the big man said that he simply puts in the necessary work so he’s always ready.
“I think the one thing that you always can do is just support and be there for your teammates,” Kleber said after the game. “I think that keeps you mentally in the game and honestly you just wanna make sure that you do your work. When you do your work you’re always prepared whenever you’re thrown in there so that’s the key component to me.
It is not an easy task to stay mentally locked in while not knowing if you’re going to play on a night-to-night basis. It is a testament to Kleber’s professionalism and work ethic that he is able to step in on a moment’s notice and make a positive impact.
Kleber simply does a lot of things that don’t show up on the box score, but are huge in terms of helping his team win. He has played 10 or more minutes in 12 games this season, but he posted a positive +/- rating in nine of those games.
As long as the Lakers are healthy, Kleber likely will continue to be used only sparingly, but knowing that he is on the bench ready to play and contribute at any time is a great thing for Redick and the rest of the team.
Austin Reaves explains why he was able to regain rhythm quickly for Lakers
While Maxi Kleber gave the Lakers a boost in their win, it was Austin Reaves who led the way for the Lakers with 35 points, five rebounds and six assists after Luka Doncic left due to injury. It was just the second game back for Reaves, who was out due to a calf strain and the Lakers guard explained how he was able to find his rhythm so quickly upon his return to the court.
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