Basketball player Maxi Kleber has a clear opinion in the corona crisis. The Dallas Mavericks pro takes a look at the effects of the virus on the leagues in the US and Germany. Regardless of sport, he demands discipline.
Mainz (dpa) - Basketball professional Maxi Kleber has spoken out in the face of the global corona virus crisis for a season break in the NBA and also in the Bundesliga.
"If there is no potential danger and you can continue the season somehow, you could represent that. But I personally just don't see the situation at the moment," said the 28-year-old from the Dallas Mavericks in ZDF's "Current Sports Studio" to the NBA. That is why it is "realistic for him and it could well happen that the season is simply canceled - which I think would be morally the right way".
The season should also end in the German basketball Bundesliga, says Kleber. "In Germany it would be better to cancel the season," said the international. "A lot of players have already left, and the small clubs cannot afford it at the moment. That is a kind of distortion of competition," said the NBA professional. He believes "that the season cannot be continued realistically".
Doing strength and fitness training, making daily calls to his family in Würzburg and hoping for better times: this is how Klebers' everyday life currently looks. "I haven't had a ball in my hand for over two weeks and haven't thrown it anymore." This is probably "the longest time in my life - since I play basketball".
The professional league NBA announced a break of "at least 30 days" in mid-March. This roughly corresponds to the rest of the regular season, which is scheduled until April 15th. The playoffs are scheduled for April 18, and the finals should begin on June 4.
The Corona crisis worries Kleber even though he and his family are healthy. "We have more cases here in the United States than in China and Italy, so that's scary," said Kleber, who has played for the Mavericks since 2017 and most recently was the starter. "The numbers are skyrocketing here in the United States."
As far as his sport is concerned, the teams in the NBA have better conditions in the crisis than, for example, in the basketball Bundesliga. "The situation here is different, for the simple reason that the clubs are financially better positioned here," said Kleber. "There are no short-time work contracts for the athletes now. But what will happen is that we will also forego salary. This is contractually regulated for us."
Kleber has no understanding for people who, in the current situation, still agree to parties despite the restrictions on contacts. "You learn that in competitive sports: if you want to be successful, you need to bring discipline," he said. "I think that would be appropriate now: that everyone adheres to it, is disciplined, and then we can also record success together and hopefully then look ahead and have better times."
Current sports studio
Profile Maxi Kleber on the DBB side