Maxi Kleber to return in playoffs: What impact will he have on Dallas Mavericks?

The Dallas Mavericks will face the Utah Jazz in the opening round of the playoffs, but will superstar Luka Doncic be able to play after suffering a calf injury in the team's final regular season contest. No news yet on the severity, but the 23-year-old will do everything he can to face the Jazz.

The Mavs won their final four regular-season games and were riding high before Luka’s injury. Tim Hardaway Jr. remains sidelined after foot surgery, and Maxi Kleber was the only other question mark for Dallas. The 6’10 forward missed the final four regular-season games with ankle soreness.

Kleber is a key piece for the Mavericks in the playoffs, but will he be healthy? Head coach Jason Kidd offered an update on April 10. Here is a look at that and what to expect from Maxi in the postseason.

Maxi Kleber to return in playoffs: What impact will he have on Dallas Mavericks?

Kidd was definitive that Kleber would be ready for the playoffs. The Mavericks open the series against the Jazz on April 16, so he will have an extra week to heal. Kleber was limited by lower leg issues in the 2021 playoffs as his minutes decreased throughout the series against the LA Clippers.

Hopefully, Maxi Kleber will be close to 100 percent, and the time off helped him break out of his shooting slump. Over his last 17 games, the 6’10 forward made just 18.8 percent of his 3-pointers as he averaged just 4.5 points per contest. The Mavericks need Kleber knocking down open shots and playing stout defense to make a significant impact in the playoffs.

The Dallas Mavericks will be looking to space the floor and put four shooters around Luka Doncic against the Jazz. If Kleber is sinking his 3-pointers, he could play a significant role and help the Mavs win a series for the first time since 2011.

The Smoking Cuban will have all the latest on Maxi Kleber, plus analysis on the series against the Jazz and all the Dallas Mavericks rumors this offseason, so be sure to check back to the site daily to catch it.