The Los Angeles Lakers will need all the help they can get while they still have LeBron James and Luka Dončić on the same roster. However, like any other NBA team, there are some things they just can’t control. In this case, it’s injuries.
The Lakers have already dealt with an injury blow with the season starting in a few weeks. It appears not serious, and JJ Redick made it sound like the team will be cautious with it.
Which Player on the Lakers Recently Got Injured?
On October 2, Lakers’ head coach JJ Redick confirmed that Maxi Kleber’s latest injury, though it does not appear to be a problem. Lakers’ reporter Jovan Buha revealed what Redick told reporters.
“JJ Redick said Maxi Kleber has a minor quad injury and will be out a few days,” Buha wrote. “He said the Lakers are being cautious with him.”
JJ Redick said Maxi Kleber has a minor quad injury and will be out a few days. He said the Lakers are being cautious with him.
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) October 2, 2025
On the one hand, it doesn’t sound like Kleber will be out for an extended period, so the Lakers can take comfort in knowing that their frontcourt depth shouldn’t be undermanned for too long.
On the other hand, Kleber getting hurt again while playing for the Lakers is very troubling because he’s been on the shelf since they acquired him in the Dončić trade back in February. He’s appeared in only one game for the Lakers, their last playoff game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he played a grand total of five minutes.
Kleber has experience playing next to Dončić from their days with the Dallas Mavericks, so the Lakers could at least see how they do as a duo. Kleber might not be a star, but he has proven himself useful when he’s on the court.
If and when he plays, the Lakers should know that his performance has steadily declined over the past few years. Not only has he appeared in fewer games, but his numbers are not what they used to be. Even when he returns, many will wonder if Redick plans to play him.
In fact, Kleber’s best value might be his contract. Not only is Kleber in the last year of his deal, but he is owed $11 million this season, which could be dangled for a better player if the Lakers are looking for an upgrade.
This injury doesn’t sound like a big deal, but what the Lakers do with Kleber will an intriguing storyline.
