Mavericks veteran controversially snubbed from Olympics due to wild drama
The Dallas Mavericks supporters are eagerly awaiting the schedule’s announcement later this month, as the NBA regular season approaches.
There have been rumours that Dallas will play the Minnesota Timberwolves on Christmas Day. Regardless of who they finish up playing against, their opening night clash should be entertaining.
Basketball fans are eager for the NBA season, but their excitement has taken a hiatus due to the Olympics going on in Paris. The Mavs have two players represented in the Olympics, as Dante Exum played for Australia, and Dwight Powell is playing for Canada.
Maxi Kleber snubbed from Olympics after last summer’s drama
Although Powell and Exum have both performed admirably, one Maverick was completely excluded from competing in the Olympics. The rationale behind this choice is unclear, and it appears that a series of unfortunate circumstances have led up to it.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, Maxi Kleber wanted to play for Germany (subscription required), but since he didn’t make himself available to play in the FIBA World Cup last summer (that Germany ended up winning), “there was little chance (he) would be invited to play on the Olympic squad.”
Going into last offseason, Kleber was healthy, but he did tear his hamstring during the middle of the season. He likely could have played in the World Cup, and he wanted to, but a German teammate decided to openly criticize Kleber for not playing in the summer prior as he was recovering from injuries.
Dennis Schroder fired some shots at Kleber, and seemingly in response to that, he backed out of playing in the World Cup for Germany. It’s a shame that Kleber didn’t get to play in the Olympics this year largely because he missed the World Cup last summer, and if it wasn’t for Schroder, he likely would have been representing his country right now in Paris.
It’s amazing to imagine that the German team could have performed even better in these Olympics with Kleber on it, and Schroder’s needless public remarks about the player would have probably created difficulties in the locker room as well.
While it is unfortunate that Kleber won’t be competing for the Mavericks in the Olympics, his absence from action does allow him more time to train and improve.
After sustaining a severe shoulder injury in the playoffs, Kleber didn’t seem like himself when he got back. Kleber needs to come back to his previous level for the Mavs; otherwise, he might be traded before the trade deadline.
Kleber has been a good veteran for the Mavs on and off the floor for years, and him not being able to participate in the Olympics partially due to Schroder causing drama between them has to be frustrating for him.
