JJ Redick Shares Concerning Lakers Frontcourt Injury Update

The Los Angeles Lakers are still awaiting clarity on the status of backup center Jaxson Hayes while veteran forward Maxi Kleber could remain sidelined for the foreseeable future.

Head coach JJ Redick provided updates on both players during his pregame media availability before the Lakers defeated the Chicago Bulls 142–130 on Thursday night.

Hayes underwent imaging earlier in the day as the team evaluates the severity of his back injury.

“Jaxson got imaging today,” Redick said. “We have not gotten the results of that yet, so nothing to really report on there.”

Hayes has been a steady contributor in the Lakers’ frontcourt rotation this season, averaging 7.0 points and 4.0 rebounds in 17.7 minutes per game.

The uncertainty surrounding his status comes at a challenging time as Los Angeles prepares for a physical matchup Saturday against the Denver Nuggets.

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Kleber Expected to Miss Additional Time

While the Lakers wait for Hayes’ test results, Redick suggested Kleber could remain out for a longer stretch due to a recurring back issue.

The injury originally surfaced earlier in the season and has recently flared up again.

“This is an issue that flared up earlier in the season — in December — and it’s flared up again,” Redick said. “[Kleber] had some good days. He’s had some bad days. He’s probably going to be out for a little bit just so we can get this to calm down.”

Kleber, 34, has played a limited role this season while dealing with health issues, averaging 2.2 points and 1.9 rebounds in 10.9 minutes per game.

With both Hayes and Kleber sidelined Thursday, the Lakers’ frontcourt depth has been stretched thin.

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Ayton Anchoring the Lakers Frontcourt

The absence of both big men has placed increased responsibility on starting center Deandre Ayton.

Ayton delivered another strong performance during Thursday’s victory over Chicago. He finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds, producing his second consecutive double-double while ranking third on the team in scoring.

The strong outing continued an encouraging stretch for the former No. 1 overall pick.

Ayton has endured the least productive statistical season of his career so far, but his recent play suggests he may be finding his rhythm down the stretch.

Over his last two games, Ayton is averaging 18.5 points and 11.0 rebounds while logging 35.6 minutes per contest.

He will have an opportunity to record a third straight double-double Saturday against Denver, where the Lakers will need strong interior play against a Nuggets frontcourt led by MVP center Nikola Jokić.

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Lakers Carry Momentum Into Nuggets Showdown

Despite the injury concerns in the frontcourt, the Lakers enter the weekend matchup with significant momentum.

Los Angeles extended its winning streak to four games Thursday thanks to a dominant performance from Luka Dončić, who erupted for 51 points along with 10 rebounds and nine assists.

LeBron James also returned after missing three games due to injury, finishing with 18 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.

The victory pushed the Lakers ahead of the idle Houston Rockets into third place in the Western Conference standings.

As Los Angeles prepares for another showdown with Denver, the team will continue monitoring Hayes’ imaging results while hoping Ayton’s recent surge can stabilize the frontcourt rotation.

Alder Almo is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 20 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo