5 Dallas Mavericks players who have been disappointments to start season

3. Maxi Kleber

Injuries can completely hinder a player's development, and Dallas Mavericks forward Maxi Kleber has been a testament to that over the last two seasons.

Going into last season, Kleber looked as if he would be a key member of the Mavericks' core for years to come. His ability to stretch the floor and protect the rim were massive for Dallas during the 2022 NBA Playoffs, and some of his best games came during that playoff run.

Despite all of that success heading into last season, Kleber's season was cut down due to a torn hamstring. He ended up returning during the back half of the season, but he was never the same. He struggled once he returned to the lineup and didn't provide the same impact he once did.

Heading into this season, it seemed that the Mavs would finally get a fully healthy Kleber as he had a full offseason of recovery. Even Kleber said he was at 100 percent before the season, but he still never looked the same.

He doesn't make the same timely and efficient rotations as a help-side rim protector that he had in years past and his confidence on offense dwindled. To make matters worse, he injured his toe and is now out for multiple weeks.

Even though Kleber hasn't been on the court recently, his performance when on the floor has been a disappointment. He is averaging 3.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 0.2 blocks per game while shooting 33.3 percent from 3-point range. For reference, he averaged 0.8 blocks per game last season.