According to insights from The Athletic’s Jovan Buha, Jarred Vanderbilt, known for his defensive prowess with the Los Angeles Lakers, has progressed in his recovery from a right foot injury. He’s now engaged in light jogging, indicating positive strides in his rehabilitation. However, he has yet to resume on-court contact activities, making his participation in the upcoming game against New Orleans unlikely. The prospect of him playing in the play-in tournament also seems doubtful. If Vanderbilt returns, it’s likely to be during the early stages of the playoffs, possibly in a matchup against teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves or the Oklahoma City Thunder, or even midway through a playoff series.
It’s interesting to note that Lakers head coach Darvin Ham stated there were no new updates on Vanderbilt’s injury as of Friday, despite recent progress.
Notably, Buha had previously suggested a potential return for Vanderbilt in early April. The Lakers were reportedly targeting this timeframe to integrate him back into the lineup, aiming for him to gain some game experience before the regular season’s end on April 14th.
Vanderbilt, in his second season with the Lakers, has had a sporadic presence in the lineup during the 2023-24 regular season. Despite limited appearances, he has showcased his defensive prowess, averaging 5.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.2 steals per game with solid shooting percentages.
With just one game left in the regular season, the Lakers are set for the play-in tournament to secure a playoff berth, given their current position three games behind the Phoenix Suns for the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference. However, the exact opponent for the play-in remains uncertain, with contenders like the Suns, Sacramento Kings, and Golden State Warriors in the mix.
Although Vanderbilt’s defensive skills could be valuable against formidable opponents in the play-in tournament, Buha suggests it’s unlikely he will participate. This leaves questions about how the Lakers will defend against top scorers like Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Stephen Curry, and De’Aaron Fox during the tournament, especially without one of their key defensive assets.
