While the Lakers’ elimination by the Thunder has sparked widespread fan speculation over LeBron James’ future—especially with his contract expiring and him approaching 42—the truth is the first player likely to leave the team isn’t the King, but rather 34-year-old Maxi Kleber. James himself has said he hasn’t made a decision yet and will reveal it when the time is right.
The suspense remains: will LeBron retire or keep playing? Given his current ability, the odds favor him continuing. However, the real retirement candidate on this Lakers squad is Kleber. Acquired in a trade alongside Luka Doncic last season, Kleber never found a consistent role in Los Angeles. He saw some regular-season minutes but was largely out of the rotation during the playoffs.
Kleber simply no longer possesses NBA-caliber skills. His decline began during his final years in Dallas, though coach Jason Kidd continued to trust him. With his contract expiring this summer, it’s highly unlikely any team will offer the 34-year-old a new deal—which explains why the Lakers couldn’t trade him despite his $11 million annual salary. No team wanted to take on that contract.
Once the season ends, even Kleber’s close friendship with Doncic won’t earn him another contract from the Lakers. Retirement or a return to European basketball seems his best option. As mentioned, a 34-year-old with his declining production won’t attract NBA interest. Still, Kleber’s career has been a success story. An undrafted German in 2014, he joined the Mavericks in 2017 and earned a four-year, $35 million extension in 2019, even becoming a key rotation player.
In 2022, he signed a three-year, $33 million early extension with Dallas—only to see his play drop off sharply. In the first year of that deal (2023-24), he averaged just 4.4 points and 3.3 rebounds over 43 games. Last season: 3 points and 2.8 rebounds. This season: 2 points and 2 rebounds. Over three years, he played only 120 games, averaging 16.6 minutes per game—essentially “earning” $33 million without contributing much.
For an undrafted, non-American player, Kleber’s career has been remarkable. Even if he retires now or goes unsigned, he has no regrets. Many more talented players never achieved what he did. Meanwhile, by moving on from Kleber, the Lakers free up $11 million in cap space this summer, which they can use to bolster the roster after a year of waiting.
