Vanderbilt’s return won’t be on opening night.
Los Angeles Lakers head coach J.J. Redick spoke about Jared Vanderbilt in an interview with ‘ESPN’ on Monday (Nov. 18).Vanderbilt was the 41st overall pick in the 2018 draft, which is not a very high pick. However, he has made a name for himself in the league by playing to his strengths.
He”s like a real-life version of the comic strip Slam Dunk. His strengths are his athleticism, his work rate, and his ability to fight for possessions. Vanderbilt”s weakness is his shooting, 토토사이트 모음 but his ability to defend opposing guard aces makes him an attractive option.
After joining the Lakers in a trade during the 2022-2023 season, Vanderbilt became a key contributor and signed a four-year extension with the team last summer. It was a long-term commitment.
However, he hasn”t been able to fulfill that promise. Injuries have slowed him down. After returning from a heel injury that sidelined him early last season, Vanderbilt played 29 games before breaking the metatarsal in his right foot, ending his season prematurely. There was talk of a return before the playoffs, but he was unable to return to the court.
Vanderbilt, who last played in a game on Feb. 2, opted for a different approach to his recovery than surgery. He has undergone several procedures, but as a result, he has not played in any preseason games and is unlikely to be ready for the opener. According to Reddick, Vanderbilt’s recovery will take at least two weeks.
“Jared Vanderbilt’s rehabilitation and preparation for his return is going well. It’s going in a very good direction,” he said, but added, ‘It’s likely that we won’t have an update for the next two weeks, so he won’t be ready for the start of the regular season,’ implying that Vanderbilt will miss the opener. The Lakers’ regular-season opener is less than a week away.
Redick continued, “We’re taking a long-term approach. The coaches, the medical staff, and the player himself are all in favor of it. The season is long. We want to make sure he’s going in the right direction.”
The Lakers lost Prince to the offseason without any offseason reinforcements on the wing. It would be a huge boost if Vanderbilt could return and provide a spark, but it likely won’t happen in the opener. Other players will need to step up on defense.