It’s hard to consider a starter an unsung hero, but rookie Maxi Kleber has been a key contributor to the Mavs’ recent run of success, and he’s mostly done it while staying under the radar.
Since Kleber joined the starting lineup on Nov. 17, the Mavericks are 6-8. During that time he’s averaged only 6.4 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, numbers that won’t really jump off the page. But he’s increased his production to 8.3 points, 5.3 boards, and 1.1 blocks a night in 26.2 minutes in his last eight games, also providing solid defense at the other end.
That’s what this story is really about. In the Mavs’ latest three-game stretch, Kleber has primarily defended emerging star center Karl-Anthony Towns, proven big man LaMarcus Aldridge, and superstar Finals MVP Kevin Durant. Yes, Kevin Durant, a 7-footer with handles like a guard. And Kleber held his own at times last night against one of the best in the business. Nevertheless, it’s quite a changeup from the kind of guys he’s used to facing on the block.
“It’s a different player, one of the greatest offensive players out there,” Kleber told Mavs.com of facing Durant after the Mavs’ 112-97 loss in Oakland. “He’s got everything in the package: He can shoot 3s, he can penetrate, so it’s tough. Usually the big guys that I’m defending are more in the low-post, posting me up. But (Durant), he’s got the same size, a little bit taller, a little bit longer, and he’s faster than me, so it’s a tough challenge.”
Durant ended up scoring 36 points on 23 shots, but many of them came against other Mavericks. Kleber mentioned a few plays in particular, though, that he counted as mistakes against the all-world scorer.
It’s hard to be too critical of Kleber after the first game of his life where he’s defended a player anything like Durant. The German rookie played in basically a switch-everything defensive system for Bayern Munich, but there isn’t anyone like KD overseas.
“Maybe they have a big 3-guy and we might have changed it, but it’s different here,” Kleber said. “Players have a different skillset, especially if you look at KD. He’s a 7-foot tall guy with a skillset that’s amazing.”
In the wake of injuries to Dorian Finney-Smith and Seth Curry, the Mavs’ rotation is in an odd place: They can only start one ball-handler but they don’t have enough traditional wings to play smaller teams. That’s where the German comes in. Part of what’s made Kleber such a valuable player is not only his ability to defend those kinds of players, but also that he even has the awareness to recognize the need to.
“I think it’s important as a 4-guy, which is my position, to be able to switch out at 4/5 and keep guards in front of you, because that’s where (the game is) going,” he said. “Especially against a team like this, with a lineup where guys are pretty similar height-wise, it’s important that you can switch out and keep guys in front of you.”
The other Mavericks in the starting lineup have their own responsibilities. Harrison Barnes, for example, typically defends wings as well, but many of the best teams now have two ball-handling wings in the starting lineup, leaving one for either Kleber or Dirk Nowitzki to defend. At 39 years old, Dirk simply isn’t built to chase around faster guys on the perimeter, so he usually guards the biggest player in those situations. When teams start with two bigs, Kleber can defend the better one, but if they go with two wings instead, Kleber has to step up and embrace the challenge to help protect his fellow Wurzburg native.
“I’m trying to give my best and go out there and compete, and do the right stuff,” Kleber said. “For me, that’s playing my role, and that’s competing on defense and taking easy stuff away so Dirk doesn’t have to do it. Dirk has (responsibility on) offense, because that’s where he’s unguardable. So that’s my job: getting back and playing defense.”
Nowitzki, for his part, appreciates the challenge Kleber is facing.
“Coming over from Bayern Munich and then … every night he’s guarding basically the best frontcourt player on the opposing team,” Nowitzki said. “So he’s got a tough task every night, but he’s been up for the challenge. He’s a competitor, he uses his length well, he’s smart, and he uses his feet.”
For Kleber to maintain a spot in the starting lineup, one thing he’ll need to do is continue to show defensive versatility. He’s got great feet and is able to defend without fouling, and he’s not afraid to mix it up a bit either — he missed a 3-pointer last night and then hustled back, got in position, and drew a charge on Durant as the Warrior was moving downhill toward the basket.
If he can continue to make plays like that, he might not only be safe in the starting lineup for now, but he could carve out a nice role in this league for quite a while.
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