Maxi Kleber dissects his mindset for peak performance, proving readiness and impact even with limited minutes after a standout game.
Los Angeles Lakers forward Maxi Kleber does not get a lot of minutes on most nights, but when his name gets called, he is ready to go.
On Sunday, the Lakers took care of the Sacramento Kings in a dominant 128-104 win at Crypto.com Arena, and Kleber was a big part of why the team pulled away so easily.
After the game, Kleber broke down what keeps him locked in even when his role is limited.
"I just always focus on staying ready, being ready," Kleber said. "On the defensive side, making sure I communicate to the guys, make the right decisions on the switches, on the screen calls on the offensive side, setting good screens, getting my teammates open because I know if I do that, I might get a dish here there. So just playing the game what I'm expected to do."
Kleber Brought Energy Off the Bench
It was an impactful outing for the veteran big man, who finished with six points, six rebounds and a block in just 14 minutes while posting a plus-7 on the night.
Kleber came in when starting center Jaxson Hayes picked up early foul trouble, and he immediately raised the intensity on both ends.
He threw down a poster dunk on Precious Achiuwa that had the entire Lakers bench on their feet and swatted a Drew Eubanks shot at the rim as part of his rim-protecting effort.
Things even got a little heated when Kleber stood his ground on a hard play against Sacramento's Malik Monk, drawing a technical foul on Monk and getting Russell Westbrook involved in the exchange as well.
It was the kind of toughness and energy that the Lakers feed off, and his teammates took notice.
"He's the guy that makes our team," Rui Hachimura said after the game. "He has good energy. He always brings good energy to the team. We always talk about how we need to be more like Maxi."
Head coach JJ Redick also highlighted Kleber's contributions, pointing to the two dunks and the reaction they brought from the group.
He called it something that gives the team spirit, and that is exactly the type of lift a bench player can provide when the opportunity comes along.
The Case for More Kleber Minutes
On the season, Kleber has only appeared in 34 of the Lakers' 60 games and averages fewer than 11 minutes per contest, putting up modest numbers of 2.1 points and 1.8 rebounds per game.
But Sunday showed what he can bring when he gets a real opportunity, and it raises the question of whether he deserves a bigger slice of the rotation down the stretch.
The Lakers are 36-24 and sitting sixth in the Western Conference after rattling off back-to-back blowout wins over the Golden State Warriors and the Kings.
Sacramento, on the other hand, continues to struggle at 14-48 and has now lost 18 of its last 20 games.
While the Kings were not exactly a measuring stick, Kleber's defensive communication, screen-setting and willingness to do the dirty work are things that translate against any opponent.
With Luka Doncic leading the charge at 32.6 points, 8.6 assists and 7.7 rebounds per game this season, the Lakers need role players who can maximize the star guard's talent.
Kleber's history with Doncic from their time together in Dallas gives them a natural chemistry, and the way he sets screens and finds the right spots in the offense is a direct result of that connection.
Jarred Vanderbilt was a healthy scratch against the Kings, which opened the door for Kleber to step in and he delivered.
As the Lakers head into a crucial stretch of the schedule with games against New Orleans, Denver and several other playoff teams on the horizon, finding consistent contributions from the back end of the roster is going to be important.
If Kleber keeps bringing that kind of energy when his number is called, Redick would be smart to call it more often.