DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks will play the entire Western Conference semifinal series against the Oklahoma City Thunder without Maxi Kleber. He suffered a torn AC joint in his right shoulder during a game against the Los Angeles Clippers on May 3, and it will be some time before he returns to action.
Kleber, who has only appeared to the media recently in street clothes and carrying a sling, was instrumental in helping his team make the playoffs by participating in light shooting drills and lateral slides during Friday's practice. He has taken an important step towards his comeback.
“I think there's a chance he can come back,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “It's great to see him getting better cardio, better blood flow, better defensive slides. It's all progress. Everything is moving in the right direction.”
Kleber's injury was initially expected to cause him to miss the entire second-round game against the Thunder, but that has now been reevaluated. With the Mavericks leading the series 3-2, it seems increasingly likely that Kleber will return in the Western Conference Finals or late in the playoffs, and his recent sightings could be seen as a positive development. It is being
“I think watching him do basketball activities is a positive thing, not only for him, but for his teammates and coaches,” Kidd said. “We'll see what that timeline looks like going forward.”
Maxi Kleber was on the court during the public portion of practice as he continues his rehabilitation. “He could be back,” Jason Kidd said before the playoffs ended.
Kleber used resistance bands to work on lateral slides and improve his jump shots. pic.twitter.com/cewsIfgR49
— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) May 17, 2024
Kleber's return would be a big boost for the Mavericks. He would provide the team's only small-ball center option with the intangibles of a big man with the skillset to function as a stretch five or switch option while protecting the rim. He has provided strong support in four-man play, sharing the floor with Derek Lively II and Daniel Gafford.
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If the Mavericks successfully advance to the Western Conference Finals, Kleber will likely be a valuable asset as he will likely face a strong frontcourt opponent. Specifically, he could face the Minnesota Timberwolves' powerful duo of Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns, as well as Nikola Jokic, the mainstay of the Denver Nuggets and three-time MVP. With Kleber on the court, the Mavericks' prospects against these elite teams will improve.
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