Maxi Kleber has established himself as a valuable NBA player known for his defensive skills, three-point shooting ability, and versatility on the court. From his humble beginnings in Würzburg, Germany—the same hometown as NBA legend Dirk Nowitzki—to becoming an important rotation player for the Dallas Mavericks and now the Los Angeles Lakers, Kleber’s journey represents perseverance and dedication.
His ability to stretch the floor as a big man while providing rim protection has made him a valuable asset in today’s NBA, where versatility is highly prized. Currently recovering from a foot injury with the Lakers, Kleber’s career has been marked by solid contributions, timely playoff performances, and a reputation as a reliable teammate.
Maxi Kleber’s Biography
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Maximilian Kleber |
| Date of Birth | January 29, 1992 |
| Age | 33 |
| Nationality | German |
| Height | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
| Weight | 240 lb (109 kg) |
| Position | Power Forward/Center |
| Turned Pro | 2011 |
| Current Team | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Net Worth | Estimated $20-25 million |
| 2024-25 Salary | $11,000,000 |
| Career Earnings | $58,545,354 |
| Relationship Status | Linked to Brittany Gibson |
| Agent | Guy Zucker of Zucker International |
Early Career
Maxi Kleber’s basketball journey began in his hometown of Würzburg, Germany, where he first fell in love with the game at the age of 10. Like many young basketball enthusiasts, Kleber attended basketball camps during summer breaks where he not only honed his skills but also formed lasting friendships.
These formative experiences proved crucial for his development, as he was exposed to professional basketball players who visited these camps. In a full-circle moment years later, Kleber would reflect on those days when he himself visited the Mavs Academy Hoop Camp in 2022, telling young campers about his own childhood experiences.
Growing up in Würzburg—the same city that produced NBA legend Dirk Nowitzki—provided Kleber with a tangible example of how a German player could succeed at basketball’s highest level. During his youth, Kleber played in various local clubs, developing his fundamentals in the youth ranks of TG Veitshöchheim, SC Heuchelhof, and TG Würzburg. These grassroots programs laid the foundation for his eventual professional career.
His first professional season saw him in a limited role, averaging just 7 minutes per game as he adjusted to the professional level. However, his potential was already evident, and by his second season, Kleber had developed into an important player for the team, averaging 9.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per game—impressive numbers for a young player in a competitive European league.
In 2012, Kleber declared for the NBA draft but ultimately removed his name from consideration, deciding to continue developing his game in Europe. He became automatically eligible for the 2014 NBA draft but went undrafted, a setback that would have discouraged many players. Instead of giving up on his dreams, Kleber used this as motivation to improve his game and prove himself in European competition.
Following his time with Würzburg, Kleber took his talents to Spain, signing a two-year contract with Obradoiro CAB for the 2014-15 season. This move represented a significant step up in competition, as the Spanish ACB League is widely regarded as one of the strongest domestic leagues in Europe. Kleber thrived in this new environment, showcasing his ability to compete against higher-level talent.
In one particularly memorable performance, he was named MVP of round 25 after scoring 36 points against Fuenlabrada. Throughout the 2014-15 ACB season, Kleber appeared in 33 games, averaging 11.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, numbers that began to attract attention from bigger European clubs and NBA scouts alike.
After his successful stint in Spain, Kleber returned to Germany on July 1, 2015, signing a two-year contract with FC Bayern Munich, one of the country’s most prestigious basketball clubs. His time with Bayern Munich further elevated his profile in European basketball. In the 2015-16 season, he played 24 Bundesliga games, including 17 starts, averaging 8.0 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.
The following season saw him take another step forward, as he appeared in 37 BBL games, averaging 8.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game. These performances earned him BBL All-Star honors, a spot on the All-BBL Second Team, and the BBL Most Effective Player award.
Kleber’s European success extended beyond domestic competition. In the 2016-17 EuroCup, he averaged 9.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists across 17 games, earning All-EuroCup Second Team honors. This international experience against diverse playing styles and talented opponents prepared him for the ultimate challenge: competing in the NBA.
What’s particularly remarkable about Kleber’s path to the NBA is how long the Dallas Mavericks had been tracking his development. According to Tony Ronzone, the director of player personnel for the Mavericks, the organization had been monitoring Kleber since 2007 when he was just 16 years old.
Despite injuries during EuroCamp that derailed his early NBA momentum—injuries that team officials believe prevented him from being drafted years earlier—the Mavericks maintained their interest in the versatile big man throughout his European career.
Professional Career
On July 13, 2017, Maxi Kleber’s persistence and development paid off when the Dallas Mavericks signed him as a free agent. At 26 years old, Kleber was older than most NBA rookies, but his years of professional experience in Europe had prepared him for the transition to the world’s premier basketball league.
Rather than simply being a training camp addition, Kleber impressed the Mavericks coaching staff enough to earn a spot in the regular rotation from the beginning of his NBA career.
Kleber’s rookie season in 2017-18 exceeded expectations as he appeared in 72 games and started in 36 of them. He averaged just over 16 minutes per game, contributing 5.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 0.7 blocks per contest while shooting 48.9% from the field. His ability to space the floor, protect the rim, and switch defensively showed that his game was well-suited for the modern NBA. Despite being undrafted, Kleber quickly established himself as a reliable rotation player who could impact games with his versatility.
In his second NBA season (2018-19), Kleber continued to demonstrate his value as a versatile frontcourt player. He appeared in 71 games, starting 18 of them, and saw his minutes increase to 21.2 per game. His production also rose accordingly, as he averaged 6.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game.
Perhaps most notably, Kleber improved his three-point shooting, connecting on 35.3% of his attempts from beyond the arc—an essential skill for a modern big man. This improvement from downtown made him an even more valuable rotation piece for a Mavericks team that was building around its young stars.
The 2019-20 season represented a breakthrough for Kleber as he posted career-best numbers in multiple categories. Appearing in 74 regular-season games (21 starts), he averaged 9.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 25.5 minutes per game. His three-point shooting continued to develop as he connected on 37.3% of his attempts from deep.
Kleber’s improved play earned him a spot in the Mavericks’ playoff rotation when the team qualified for the postseason. Although the Mavericks were eliminated in the first round by the Los Angeles Clippers, Kleber gained valuable playoff experience, appearing in all six games and starting each one.
The 2020-21 season saw Kleber take on an even more significant role for the Mavericks, starting 40 of his 50 appearances. While his scoring slightly decreased to 7.1 points per game, his three-point shooting reached new heights as he connected on 41.0% of his attempts from beyond the arc.
This elite shooting efficiency from a power forward/center made him an ideal floor spacer in lineups with Luka Dončić. Kleber’s defensive versatility and shooting ability once again made him a key piece in the playoffs, where he appeared in seven games against the Clippers.
The 2021-22 season proved to be one of Kleber’s most impactful, particularly in the postseason. During the regular season, he averaged 7.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks per game while appearing in 59 contests. However, it was in the playoffs where Kleber truly shined. As the Mavericks made a run to the Western Conference Finals, Kleber emerged as a crucial rotation player, appearing in 18 playoff games.
He averaged 8.7 points and 4.6 rebounds while shooting an impressive 43.6% from three-point range in the postseason. His ability to stretch the floor and defend multiple positions was instrumental in the Mavericks’ playoff success.
Injuries began to impact Kleber’s availability in the 2022-23 season, as he was limited to 37 regular-season games. Nevertheless, he remained an effective contributor when healthy, averaging 5.9 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. His three-point shooting remained solid at 34.8%, continuing to provide valuable floor spacing for the Mavericks offense.
The 2023-24 season saw Kleber primarily coming off the bench, as he started just 7 of his 43 appearances. He averaged 4.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 20.3 minutes per game. While his scoring numbers were down, he continued to provide value through his defense, passing, and floor spacing.
In the playoffs, Kleber once again elevated his game, particularly with his three-point shooting, connecting on 42.9% of his attempts from beyond the arc as the Mavericks advanced in the postseason.
Girlfriend
Maxi Kleber has been linked romantically to Brittany Gibson, though their relationship has largely been kept out of the public eye. Based on available information, it’s believed that Kleber and Gibson began dating around 2019, but both have chosen to maintain their privacy regarding their relationship status.
Brittany Gibson has an impressive background of her own. She’s a former cheerleader at Texas Christian University (TCU) who later transitioned into the corporate world. While the couple rarely makes public appearances together and doesn’t share photos of each other on their social media platforms, there have been occasional glimpses of their relationship.
In February 2020, Brittany shared a post on her X (formerly Twitter) account mentioning Kleber after the NBA All-Star break, writing: “Another successful All-Star break thankful for this one @MaxiKleber.”
Since that 2020 post, there have been few public updates about their relationship. Neither Kleber nor Gibson has officially confirmed their current status, and there have been no announcements regarding engagement, marriage, or children. This privacy is consistent with Kleber’s generally reserved approach to his personal life, as he tends to keep the focus on his basketball career rather than his off-court activities.
The lack of recent public appearances or social media interactions has led some to question whether the two are still together. However, this could simply reflect their continued commitment to keeping their relationship private rather than any change in their status. Without official statements from either party, their current relationship status remains somewhat of a mystery to the public.
Maxi Kleber’s Net Worth Details
Maxi Kleber’s net worth is estimated to be between $20-25 million as of 2025.
Contract
Maxi Kleber is currently playing under a three-year, $33 million contract that he originally signed with the Dallas Mavericks. This veteran extension began in the 2023-24 season and runs through the 2025-26 season, with an average annual salary of $11 million. The contract was structured as a fully guaranteed deal, using Bird Rights, which allowed the Mavericks to exceed the salary cap to retain him.
When Kleber was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in early 2025, his contract was transferred to his new team. Upon completion of this contract, Kleber will become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) in 2026 at the age of 34, allowing him to sign with any team without restriction.
Salary
For the 2024-25 NBA season, Maxi Kleber’s salary is $11,000,000, which represents approximately 7.82% of the NBA salary cap and 6.44% of the luxury tax threshold. This places him as the 154th highest-paid player in the NBA this season and the 63rd highest-paid forward. Within the Los Angeles Lakers organization, Kleber ranks as the 7th highest-paid player for the 2024-25 season.
His $11 million salary for the 2024-25 season carries both a cap hit and a dead cap value of $11 million, meaning the full amount counts against the Lakers’ salary cap. According to available financial documents, Kleber’s actual cash payment for the 2024-25 season is structured differently, with $4,488,506 being paid by the Lakers while $6,511,494 represents retained/dead cash obligations from the trade with Dallas.
Career Earnings
| Season | Team | Salary (Current Dollars) | Salary (Inflation-Adjusted) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-18 | Dallas Mavericks | $815,615 | $1,046,093 |
| 2018-19 | Dallas Mavericks | $1,378,242 | $1,718,365 |
| 2019-20 | Dallas Mavericks | $8,000,000 | $9,812,487 |
| 2020-21 | Dallas Mavericks | $8,475,000 | $10,328,410 |
| 2021-22 | Dallas Mavericks | $8,750,000 | $10,118,040 |
| 2022-23 | Dallas Mavericks | $9,000,000 | $9,542,592 |
| 2023-24 | Dallas Mavericks | $11,000,000 | $11,326,853 |
| 2024-25 | Dallas/LA Lakers | $11,000,000 | $11,000,000 |
| Total | $58,418,857 | $64,892,840 |
NBA Career Stats
| Season | Team | G | GS | MPG | PPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TOV | PF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-18 | DAL | 72 | 35 | 16.8 | 5.4 | 48.9 | 31.3 | 74.6 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 1.6 |
| 2018-19 | DAL | 71 | 18 | 21.2 | 6.8 | 45.3 | 35.3 | 78.4 | 4.6 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 2.0 |
| 2019-20 | DAL | 74 | 21 | 25.5 | 9.1 | 46.1 | 37.3 | 84.9 | 5.2 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 2.4 |
| 2020-21 | DAL | 50 | 40 | 26.8 | 7.1 | 42.2 | 41.0 | 91.9 | 5.2 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 2.1 |
| 2021-22 | DAL | 59 | 21 | 24.6 | 7.0 | 39.8 | 32.5 | 70.8 | 5.9 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 2.3 |
| 2022-23 | DAL | 37 | 5 | 25.1 | 5.9 | 45.6 | 34.8 | 71.1 | 3.6 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 2.3 |
| 2023-24 | DAL | 43 | 7 | 20.3 | 4.4 | 43.2 | 34.8 | 70.2 | 3.3 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.8 |
| 2024-25 | DAL | 34 | 4 | 18.7 | 3.0 | 38.5 | 26.5 | 76.2 | 2.8 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 1.9 |
| Career | 440 | 151 | 22.3 | 6.4 | 44.3 | 35.4 | 77.6 | 4.4 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 2.1 |
FAQs
1. Who is Maxi Kleber?
Maximilian Kleber is a German professional basketball player born on January 29, 1992, in Würzburg, Germany. Standing at 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) and weighing 240 lb (109 kg), he currently plays power forward for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA.
2. What teams has Maxi Kleber played for during his career?
Maxi Kleber began his professional career with Würzburg (2011-2014) in Germany’s Basketball Bundesliga. He then played for Obradoiro CAB in Spain (2014-2015) and Bayern Munich (2015-2017) before joining the Dallas Mavericks (2017-2025). He now plays for the Los Angeles Lakers (2025-present).
3. How did Maxi Kleber join the Los Angeles Lakers?
Kleber was included in the blockbuster trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Lakers and Anthony Davis to the Mavericks in early 2025. This shocking superstar swap brought Kleber to Los Angeles as part of the deal for Doncic, one of the NBA’s most dynamic offensive players.
4. What are Maxi Kleber’s NBA career statistics?
During his 8 seasons with the Dallas Mavericks, Kleber averaged 6.4 points and 4.4 rebounds in 440 regular-season games. His 2023-2024 season showed a decline with 4.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game while shooting 40.9% from the field and 31.3% from three-point range.
5. What is Maxi Kleber’s current contract and salary?
Kleber is currently earning $11,000,000 for the 2024-2025 season and is set to make the same amount in 2025-2026. He ranks as the 154th best-paid NBA player this year and the 7th highest-paid player on the Lakers roster. His agent is Guy Zucker of Zucker International.
6. What recent injury has Maxi Kleber been dealing with?
Kleber has been recovering from right foot surgery performed on January 30, 2025, after suffering a broken foot in a game against the Boston Celtics. He has recently progressed to on-court activities as part of his rehabilitation process as the playoffs approach.
7. What is Maxi Kleber known for in terms of playing style?
Kleber is recognized for his defensive versatility, shot-blocking ability, and floor-stretching capabilities as a big man. During one postseason with the Mavericks, he shot an impressive 43.6% from three-point range, including eight three-pointers in a playoff game against the Utah Jazz.
8. How has Maxi Kleber been involved in community work?
Kleber has actively participated in Mavs Hoop Camps across North Texas, surprising children and encouraging them to develop strong character both on and off the court. He has also visited teens at local domestic violence shelters and remained passionate about community involvement throughout his career.
9. Did Maxi Kleber represent Germany in the Olympics?
Kleber was selected for the 2020 German Olympic Basketball team roster, but unfortunately had to miss the games due to an Achilles injury. He has represented his home country in international competition but injuries have sometimes limited his participation.
10. What connection does Maxi Kleber have with Dirk Nowitzki?
Maxi Kleber and Dirk Nowitzki both hail from the same hometown of Würzburg, Germany, and were teammates on the Dallas Mavericks. This connection has been significant for Kleber, following in the footsteps of his fellow German countryman who became an NBA legend with the Mavericks.
