Maxi Kleber soars for dunk in return as he proves why Dallas Mavericks need him

Maxi Kleber has a unique skill set that Dallas Mavericks need

Kleber has a unique skill set that no player on the Mavericks comes close to matching. He can defend multiple positions, guard on the perimeter, and protect the rim on the defensive end of the floor. Maxi is a floor-spacing big man that allows Dallas to play five out and improves their spacing on the other end.

He was the team’s primary center in their run to the Western Conference Finals last season, and Kleber figures to play a massive role again this year once he is fully healthy.

The Mavs' defense has been a massive issue since the Kyrie trade. Dallas shipped their best defender to Brooklyn to make the deal work, and they have missed Dorian Finney-Smith mightily. The Mavericks are hoping Kleber’s return can help them get back on track, and it did when he was on the floor on Tuesday night.

Dallas had a 108.5 defensive rating in his 23 minutes and 39 seconds of action, which was second-best on the team behind Justin Holiday. It is a tiny sample size, but the Bucks lead the league with a 109.1 defensive rating this season. The Mavs also had a 16.5 net rating with Kleber on Tuesday, which was by far the highest on the team.

Maxi Kleber is a key piece for the Dallas Mavericks, and his health will be a massive story as the team looks to make a run.