Lakers May Miss Key Player at Season Start

After playing in only 29 games last season, Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt is still struggling with injuries.

Vanderbilt’s Ongoing Injury Woes:

Lakers insider Mike Bresnahan revealed that Vanderbilt hasn’t recovered from the foot injury that sidelined him for most of last season. “I’m not sure he’ll be ready for training camp or even for the preseason games,” Bresnahan told Spectrum Sportsnet. “It’s a foot injury. He opted not to have a procedure in-season when he got hurt in February. So, we’ll see if he’s ready to go. I don’t have a lot of details on it but I’m not sure he’ll be ready for training camp. Regular season is a different story. Hopefully, he’s ready by then, but nothing concrete on him yet.”

Impact on Lakers’ Defense:

Vanderbilt was key during the Lakers’ run to the Western Conference Finals in 2023, often guarding the other team’s best scorers. Many thought he could become an All-Defensive player this season. Without him, the Lakers dropped to 17th in defensive rating after being one of the top defensive teams before.

The team tried using Cam Reddish, Rui Hachimura, and Taurean Prince to fill his spot but couldn’t match his defensive skills. If Vanderbilt can’t start the 2024-2025 season, they might face similar problems again.

Fans really miss seeing him play.

Lakers’ Preseason Preparations:

Even though training camp starts on Oct. 1, many players have already been practicing at their facility recently. New head coach JJ Redick and his team are busy holding scrimmages and figuring out rotations.

The Lakers will play their first preseason game against the Timberwolves on Oct. 4 and start their regular-season campaign against them on Oct. 22.

Hopefully, Vanderbilt gets well soon!