Max Klesmit
Max Klesmit is an American basketball player who is currently playing with the Salt Lake City Stars in the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Wofford Terriers and Wisconsin Badgers.
Early life and high school career
Klesmit was born and raised in Neenah, Wisconsin and played at Neenah High School. Klesmit was nominated for USA Today Network Player of the Year as a junior after leading the Fox Valley Association conference in points per game and assists. During his senior season, he helped lead the Rockets to a 23–2 record and reached the sectional final. He led the team scoring 25.5 points per game and 7.8 rebounds per game his senior season. Klesmit was named to the Wisconsin All-State teams following his sophomore, junior and senior seasons.
College career
After not being highly recruited and mostly receiving Division II offers, Klesmit did receive a few Division I offers from UW–Green Bay, UW–Milwaukee, North Dakota and Wofford.
Freshman season
Klesmit appeared in 19 games with two starts as a true freshman at Wofford College. He was named to the SoCon All–Freshman Team after averaging 8.2 points and 2.7 rebounds in 22.7 minutes per game. Max scored a season high 15 points in a loss to 2020–21 [Chattanooga Mocs men's basketball team|Chattanooga] on February 10, 2021.
Sophomore season
Klesmit started in all 31 games during his sophomore season at Wofford. He was named to the third team SoCon All–Conference after averaging 14.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.6 steals in 31.8 minutes per game. Max scored a season high 27 points twice in a loss at 2021–22 [South Carolina Gamecocks men's basketball team|South Carolina] on February 23, 2021, and a victory against 2021–22 [The Citadel Bulldogs basketball team|The Citadel] on January 19, 2022. Following the season, Klesmit entered the NCAA transfer portal.
Wisconsin
Junior season
After announcing he was entering the transfer portal, Klesmit posted that his top 4 teams were Vanderbilt, Clemson, South Carolina and Colorado State. Despite not being in Klesmit's top 4, the Badgers were able to reengage the in-state product, and in the end, the hometown team won out. Klesmit was able to fill a role after Wisconsin lost guards Brad Davison and Johnny Davis was drafted in the first round of the 2022 NBA draft. Klesmit was inserted into the starting lineup for day 1. During a game against 2022–23 [Penn State Nittany Lions basketball team|Penn State], Klesmit took an inadvertent elbow to his face from Kanya Clary causing Max to get 16 stitches in his lip and cheek. He would be forced to miss the next two games. Klesmit finished the season as the Badgers fifth leading scorer with 8.4 points per game and scored a season high of 19 points twice against 2022–23 [Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team|Michigan] and 2022–23 [Purdue Boilermakers men's basketball team|Purdue] in back to back games.
Senior season
Klesmit is known as the Badgers defensive leader. He is usually tasked with guarding opposing teams top scorers. During parts of his second season with the Badgers, Max has been the go to player when the Badgers need to score. A perfect example of this is when Klesmit scored 20 consecutive points and put up a career high 26 points against 2023–24 [Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team|Indiana] in a 91–79 victory.
Graduate season
Klesmit returned for his 5th season using the COVID eligibility. He struggled with his shot and injuries throughout the season but continued to be a major contributor on the defensive end.
Professional career
After going undrafted during the 2025 NBA Draft, Klesmit made the opening day roster for the NBA G League Salt Lake City Stars with former Wisconsin Badgers teammates John Tonje and Steven Crowl.
Personal life
Klesmit's parents are Rich and Kelly Klesmit. He has a younger brother, Cal, who plays college basketball at NCAA Division II Michigan Wildcats|Northern Michigan]. His younger sister, Rowan, plays high school basketball for Neenah Rockets.