There hasn’t been an official announcement yet, on when exactly we’ll get to see Maxi Kleber back on the court – but it’s been great to hear how he’s improving, what his first impressions of Los Angeles are, what he misses from Germany, and what he’s already learned from LeBron James.
Since February, Maxi Kleber has been a Laker. He famously was part the blockbuster trade around Luka Dončić, that sent them from Dallas to Los Angeles, even though Maxi himself wasn’t able to step onto the court right away. The reason: a fracture in the fifth metatarsal of his right foot, which he suffered during the game against the Boston Celtics in the third quarter on January 25 – an injury that forced him into a long break. But now, in early April, there’s hope: Maxi is back on the court, in his first small training sessions.
“I’m feeling way better overall,” Maxi says right at the beginning of our conversation. “We came up with a solid rehab plan. We’re trying to get a good mix of basketball, cardio, and strength training. But I can’t give a prognosis. We’ll continue building step by step and see how fast things progress. Then there’ll be another update.”
Maxi speaks calmly, but you can still hear the excitement in his voice – for everything that’s yet to come. No fixed date, no promises – but a clear focus.
“Of course, I’m excited that hopefully I’ll be able to play again soon. Anyone who plays sports – whether professionally or not – and has been injured knows how much that can occupy your mind. So I’m just happy to be back on the basketball court now. I’m curious to see how the next steps go.”
Maxi repeatedly emphasizes how well he’s being looked after by the Lakers – which makes it easier to settle into a new franchise and quickly feel a sense of belonging and appreciation. A big part of that is also finding a home – which isn’t all that easy in a huge city like Los Angeles, made up of many large neighborhoods. So I asked Maxi whether, since becoming a Laker, he’s had the chance to explore the city and find a place to call home.
“L.A. is pretty big, so it’s not that easy.” Maxi laughs. “I’m checking out one or two areas, but I haven’t decided yet. L.A. has so many neighborhoods – everything is kind of its own thing, and you don’t really leave your part of the city. From a traffic standpoint, it’s also important to have a good location, and of course, food options.”
He grins when we get to the topic of food. Of home. And longing.
“I think there are one or two things I really miss from Germany. Especially my grandma’s cooking. Bavarian food. A bit of dumpling with gravy. You just can’t get that here. They mostly just have those powder-based dumpling mixes – it’s just not the same. That’s why I appreciate it even more when I go back to Germany and get to enjoy the dishes my grandmother makes.”
But before he gets to visit home again, it’s all about giving everything he has – to get healthy and game-ready for the Lakers as quickly as possible. A reason this new chapter is so exciting not least stems from the possibility of teaming up with one of the greatest of all time, LeBron James.
“For one, I obviously hope I’ll still get the chance to be on the court with him and experience all of that,” Maxi says. “But what really stands out is just his professionalism. You hear about it all the time, and you might have a certain idea. But once you actually see it – it’s even more impressive. I still remember it so clearly – the first game day as a Laker: his preparation, the know-how… And then even at halftime – the energy in the locker room, led by him.
The communication he encourages – getting us to talk to each other, identify and solve problems. Whether it’s on the bench, on the court itself, or in the locker room – you really feel that leadership role he’s had for years. I just find it incredibly impressive how long and how consistently he’s been doing all this. Every single day, the same motivation – no matter what game it is.”
You can hear the utmost level of respect in Maxi’s voice – and also how motivating it is for him.
“He’s fully prepared, knows every player, every system. That kind of mindset is definitely something to emulate. I think we all know the feeling: sometimes you let certain goals or habits slip – but that never happens with him. He’s always 100% focused, fully committed to everything.”
When I asked Maxi if he’s had the chance to speak one-on-one with LeBron:
“We’ve had some casual conversations in the locker room. I haven’t sat down with him one-on-one – I don’t even know if that would happen. But just how he interacts with his teammates – it’s truly impressive. And of course, we all know about his work ethic… but seeing it live, seeing how much he loves basketball – that’s what’s really impressive.”
For now, LeBron will be on the court, while Maxi is working on the sidelines. The focus remains the same – a deep Lakers playoff run. Whether that’s with the German big man playing, or not, remains to be seen. But maybe, some time soon, he’ll be standing on the court, side by side with LeBron:
“Yeah, I mean, that’s all future talk. What I’m focused on right now is hopefully being able to play again as soon as possible – whenever that may be.”
Maxi Kleber. L.A. Laker. Dumpling-and-gravy lover. And hopefully soon: back on the court.
