Overview
- The team said Kleber has an oblique strain and will be reevaluated in about two weeks, ruling him out to start the season.
- Local reporting indicates the timeline likely costs him at least the Lakers’ first eight regular-season games.
- With Kleber out plus LeBron James (sciatica) and rookie Adou Thiero (knee) unavailable, the Lakers will lean on Deandre Ayton, Jaxson Hayes, Rui Hachimura and Jarred Vanderbilt, with two-way center Christian Koloko as a depth option.
- Kleber has struggled for availability since arriving in the February trade, recovering from foot surgery last season and then missing most of preseason with a quad injury.
- Head coach JJ Redick called the news unfortunate but described it as short term, expressing confidence Kleber can help the team in a few weeks.