The LA Lakers elimination saw a brief debut for Maxi Kleber during their Game 5 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
JJ Redick called on Maxi Kleber to make his first ever appearance for the LA Lakers during their loss to Minnesota, while leaving Jaxson Hayes a DNP.
After sustaining a broken foot in action for the Mavericks in January, it was always a race against time for Kleber to suit up.
He missed the end of the regular season and began practicing at the start of April, declared ‘questionable’ for the first time ahead of Game 5.
Maxi Kleber was brought into game briefly by JJ Redick, with the 33-year-old German playing a total of five minutes.
Kleber scored two points, scoring two free throws. He missed his only three-point attempt, and was responsible for one turnover.
Speaking to Sports Center, Kendrick Perkins blasted LA Lakers head coach JJ Redick for his decision making during the series, and pointed to the Maxi Kleber selection as one aspect which went wrong.
Perkins had previously criticized the lack of usage for Gabe Vincent, and questioned his decision-making on Jaxson Hayes.
He mocked: “I’m going to stick with this small ball lineup no matter how big the Minnesota Timberwolves are. I’m going to do it my way, because I only care about offense. Forget the fact that they have Rudy and Julius Randle, who has been punishing us in the paint.
“Jaden McDaniels has been going off in this series. I’m going to stick with a 40 year old LeBron James playing the center position.
“And guess what? If Finney-Smith gets in foul trouble, I’m going to go with Maxi Kleber, I’m going to bring him into the game and hope that he can mix it up. It was ridiculous.
“I never want to do this and blame a series on one individual, but I have to blame this series on JJ Redick because when it comes down to the postseason, as a coach, you have to make adjustments.”
Redick stormed out of a press conference ahead of the game after being questioned if his decisions were related to a lack of experience.
