Lakers Injury Report: Jarred Vanderbilt’s Unsettling Development Before the Nuggets Game
Due to a persistent right foot injury, Los Angeles Lakers combo forward Jarred Vanderbilt was only able to play in 29 games during the 2023–24 regular season. Additionally, he missed Tuesday’s 110-106 play-in game victory over the New Orleans Pelicans by LA.
When the Lakers play the Denver Nuggets in their first real playoff game tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. PT, will he be any healthier?
It sounds nothing like it, for sure.
After the team’s first practice of the series against the Nuggets, Vanderbilt was spotted wearing a walking boot, according to Khobi Price of The Orange County Register.
Anyway, according to the head coach of the 6’8″ big man, this does not necessarily mean he is out for the duration of this first-round matchup.
According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, head coach Darvin Ham stated that the boot is only a “precautionary measure” and that it doesn’t signify a decline in his recuperation from his Vanderbilt recovery.
The 25-year-old had very low averages of 5.2 points on 51.8% shooting from the field, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in the 29 games he was able to play this past season—all below his career averages. Before the season began, Vanderbilt signed a four-year, $48 million contract extension. The agreement will take effect in 2019. Hopefully, his health will improve when he’s earning $12 million a year.
