Dallas Mavericks: Where Has Maxi Kleber Been Most Impactful?

The Dallas Mavericks have had some great play from the Wurzburg Germany native this year. No, I’m not talking about Dirk. Maxi Kleber is really making his case on why he is in the NBA right now, and it is time to take notice.

One of the most entertaining things that has happened to the Dallas Mavericks so far this season has to be the surprisingly great play of undrafted rookie, Maxi Kleber. Kleber came to the Mavs from Germany for the season and has quickly proven to be an asset at 25 years old.

When the season first started, most Mavs fans were confused. Some were confused learning about the new German kid the Mavs had recruited, but most were just trying to figure which guy on the bench was Kleber and which one was Jeff Withey. Maxi helped us clear that up before too long.

After playing some reasonable minutes in 6 of the Mavs first 15 games, Kleber got his first start for the Mavs and for his NBA career on November 17, 2017 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Mavs fans were upset because they wanted to see Nerlens Noel in there, and the fact that Maxi was almost irrelevant in the 27 minutes he played just added fuel to the fire.

On a night where he recorded only 3 rebounds and 0 points, Coach Carlisle stuck with the young German in hopes of him making an impact somewhere on the court. Over the next few weeks, Kleber has slowly but surely found his comfort zone with the starting lineup and in the NBA as a whole. His value on the court has been noticeable and we are really starting to see some great things.

Two performances have really stuck out in my mind as showing what Maxi can really bring to the court. The first happened on a night we would all like to forget. On November 29th, the Brooklyn Nets came to visit the Mavs with their four best players out with injuries. This did not stop them from putting a beat down on the Mavs, capping one of the worst losses in franchise history (in my opinion).

The lone bright spot of the night was undoubtedly Maxi Kleber, who scored a career high 16 points at the time, while also pulling down 7 rebounds. He shot 7-11 from the field, including 2-4 from three. This game showed me that Maxi would be able to step up even when no one else does. Relying on other players to do the dirty work is a pretty normal thing for young guys, but Maxi showed that he is ready to contribute.

The second game that stuck out to me happened just three games later when Dallas traveled to Boston for a tough loss in the Garden. During this game, Kleber did it all, recording 13 points, 5 rebounds, and an impressive 5 blocks. Maxi was a machine recording 28 minutes in his tenth start, his most minutes in a game up to that point. This game really helped Kleber become relevant in the Mavs world.

More from The Smoking Cuban

• Dallas Mavericks: Tyrell Terry injures groin in summer league loss to Jazz
• Mavericks: How to maximize Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis pairing
• Dallas Mavericks: Did they do enough this offseason to jump into title contention?
• Mavericks: What to watch for as Dallas faces Utah Jazz in summer league
• Dallas Mavericks rumors: Bulls want first round pick for Lauri Markkanen

Obviously, Kleber’s impact has been evident for the Mavericks this season and we can all be happy about that. But, what are of the game has Kleber had the most impact on? Is it offense, defense, energy, attitude, or something else?

When I watch him, he doesn’t strike me as someone who really excels on either side of the court above other players. He is a good enough shooter and an above average defender, but they are certainly not the first things that come to mind when you think of Maxi. For me, the one thing that will make him successful is his energy level.

Much like the addition of Yogi Ferrell last year, the emergence of Kleber has been all about the obvious fact that he will never take a play off. That is something that is getting harder and harder to find in the NBA as it currently stands. Kleber is all action and tenacity from start to finish and, with Rick Carlisle as your coach, that is something that will get you in the game. This is the area of the game that Kleber has been most impactful towards.

Next: Ranking the NBA's Top 10 Rookies After Month Two

It will be fun to see how Maxi progresses in his NBA career, but for now, he is a key part to the Mavs rotation, which doesn’t appear to be changing any time soon. We wish Maxi the best going forward and hope to see him in a Mavericks jersey for years to come.