Lakers Forward Expected to Miss Significant Time Due to Injury

Mar 17, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; The Los Angeles Lakers logo at midcourt at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Los Angeles Lakers forward Maxi Kleber will miss the season opener and beyond with an oblique strain. 

More news: Lakers’ Jaxson Hayes Delivers Injury Update on Himself After Preseason Scare

Kleber will be re-evaluated in around two weeks.

Injury update: Maxi Kleber (oblique strain) will be reevaluated in around 2 weeks.

— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) October 21, 2025

Prior to Tuesday, Kleber was listed as questionable for the season opener against the Golden State Warriors. He has been dealing with an abdominal muscle strain and was in jeopardy of missing the season opener.

Now, the 33-year-old veteran will miss more than that with the injury. With an unclear timeline, the Lakers will now look to rely heavily on backup center Jaxson Hayes, whose minutes will surely increase now that Kleber is no longer part of the rotation.

Lakers Enter Season Shorthanded With Multiple Players Already Out

Kleber is the third Laker to miss extended time to start the season, joining rookie forward Adou Thiero and superstar and future Hall of Famer LeBron James.

Thiero will also be re-evaluated in two weeks as he deals with a knee injury, the same knee injury that he suffered in his time as an Arkansas Razorback. The 21-year-old has progressed to on-court activities, but his knee soreness will prevent him from participating at the start of the regular season.

More news: Lakers Roster Already Confusing NBA GMs

Although Thiero was not projected to crack the rotation, even if he was healthy, the Lakers will be without his explosiveness and athleticism on both sides of the court to start the season. It's unclear what role he would have on the team once he is healthy and ready to go.

As for James, he will be re-evaluated in a couple of weeks after being released to start the season with sciatica on his right side. The 40-year-old superstar will miss his first-ever season opener of his career as he embarks on his unprecedented 23rd season in the league.

The 21-time All-Star is expected to be a massive part of the team, serving as the club's second-best player behind superstar guard, Luka Doncic. James is no longer the focal point of a team, but that doesn't mean he won't play a significant role.

Although James is closer to the end of his career than the beginning, he is still playing at a top level when he is healthy. If all goes well for James and his recovery, we could see him on the court as early as mid-November.

For more news and notes on the Los Angeles Lakers, visit Los Angeles Lakers on SI.