Overview
- Los Angeles announced the 33-year-old forward/center will be re-evaluated in about two weeks after suffering an oblique strain.
- Kleber had been listed as questionable on Monday night with a strained abdominal muscle before the Tuesday morning update.
- He arrived in Los Angeles in the Luka Dončić blockbuster, broke his foot in January, and did not debut for the Lakers until Game 5 of last season’s first-round series.
- A minor quad issue in training camp limited him to one preseason appearance heading into 2025–26.
- With Kleber sidelined and LeBron James and Adou Thiero also out to open the season, the Lakers are expected to lean on Deandre Ayton, Jaxson Hayes, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, and potentially two-way center Christian Koloko for frontcourt minutes.