By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
A knee sprain over game action and a tear of his right hamstring in practice stopped Maxi Kleber’s run as the sixth player of the Dallas Mavericks.
Kleber, 30, was initially hurt at the top of a three-game homestand as the Mavs managed to take down the Oklahoma City Thunder Monday and tore his hamstring in practice Tuesday. He was then ruled out of the game versus the Cleveland Cavaliers Wednesday. Following NBA insider Marc Stein noting the German power forward to miss an extended period, he was projected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks, per Shams Charania of The Athletic. Officially, he was ruled out indefinitely, the team updated his status.
Per the press release: “The Dallas Mavericks announced today that forward Maxi Kleber suffered a tear of his right hamstring at practice on Tuesday, December 13.
At this time, there is no timetable for Kleber’s return and updates will be given when appropriate.”
Certainly, a huge blow for Dallas. In the first outing minus the Wurzburg-born player, head coach Jason Kidd handed the sixth player role and thus additional minutes to Christian Wood. His side lost to the Cavs and fell to 14-14, prior to the last part of the homestand with the Portland Trail Blazers set to visit American Airlines Center Friday evening.
Starting his sixth NBA campaign after inking a contract extension during the offseason, Luka Doncic’s teammate averaged 6.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.0 blocks, and 0.3 steals per contest over 22 games played coming off the bench. He upped his total of appearances to 379 between the Regular Season and Playoffs, all as a member of the Mavericks.
Before moving his talents to the NBA in 2017, Kleber launched his professional career in his hometown s. Oliver Wurzburg. He spent the 2014-15 season at Rio Natura Monbus Obradoiro and joined FC Bayern Munich to log 21 7DAYS EuroCup games between 2015 and 2017.
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