The Los Angeles Lakers will be without Jarred Vanderbilt for at least another two weeks. The forward is still recovering from left heel bursitis, per NBA reporter Jovan Buha of The Athletic.
Vanderbilt is the Lakers’ best perimeter defender. Los Angeles will likely struggle on defense until the lefty returns to the lineup. Vanderbilt was acquired by the Lakers last season from the Utah Jazz and helped the team reach the Western Conference Finals after a 2-10 start.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jarred Vanderbilt, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
The 24-year-old Vanderbilt signed a four-year, $48 million extension with the Lakers in September. The Kentucky product averaged 7.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.2 blocks in 26 games with Los Angeles last season.
Vanderbilt has career averages of 6.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.5 blocks with the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Jazz and Lakers.
The Lakers are 1-1 on the season. They lost to the Nuggets on opening night and beat the Phoenix Suns in their home opener. After Los Angeles defeated Phoenix, LeBron James told TNT’s Jared Greenberg that no one on the team “gives a sh*t” about the criticism Anthony Davis gets.
“We don’t give a s— about criticism about AD,” LeBron said after the Lakers-Suns game. “We don’t care. Nothing bothers us. AD doesn’t care. I don’t know if guys have figured that out. AD does not care. He’s not on social media, so he doesn’t see none of the crap. He rarely talks, unless it’s to us, so we don’t give a s— about it, and he definitely doesn’t. He just goes out and does his job, and we’re happy to have AD.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jarred Vanderbilt, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
Davis was destroyed by NBA pundits after the Lakers lost to the Nuggets since he had zero points in the second half. AD responded with 30 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, three steals and three blocks in the Lakers’ win over the Suns.
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