Maxi Kleber
A self-made German big man who transformed from an undrafted prospect into a vital, floor-spacing defensive specialist for a contending NBA team.
Born 1992 (age 34)·German basketball player·Birthday: January 29·Millennials
Biography
Maxi Kleber's route to the NBA was anything but conventional. After going undrafted out of Würzburg in Germany, he spent years refining his game in his homeland and Spain, developing a reliable three-point shot and sharp defensive instincts. His patience paid off when the Dallas Mavericks signed him in 2017. In Dallas, he became the quintessential modern role player: a 'stretch five' who could protect the rim, switch onto guards, and space the floor for stars like Luka Dončić. Kleber's intelligence and unselfish play made him a fixture in the Mavericks' rotation for nearly a decade, a testament to the value of international development and a player perfectly engineered for today's game.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Maxi was born in 1992, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Maxi Was Born
The biggest hits of 1992
#1 Movie
Aladdin
Best Picture
Unforgiven
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Maxi's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1992Born
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1997Started school
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2005Became a teenager
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2008Could drive
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2010Could vote
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Turned 21
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2022Turned 30
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 34 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played a pivotal role for the Dallas Mavericks during their run to the 2022 Western Conference Finals.
- Recorded a career-high 7 blocks in a single game against the Portland Trail Blazers in 2021.
- Signed a multi-year contract extension with the Mavericks in 2022, validating his status as a core piece.
- Averaged over 40% from three-point range for three consecutive NBA seasons from 2019 to 2022.
Did You Know?
He played for the German national team alongside his close friend and Mavericks teammate, Dirk Nowitzki, in the latter's final international games.
Before focusing on basketball, he was a competitive swimmer as a child.
He is one of the few NBA players to have gone undrafted and played at least seven seasons with a single team (Dallas).
“I stay ready so I don't have to get ready.”
