Jarred Vanderbilt has garnered a reputation as one of the top defenders on the Los Angeles Lakers, but he finds himself in a challenging situation early in the 2025-26 NBA season. Despite his defensive prowess, Vanderbilt has not seen any minutes in the Lakers’ last two games, including their narrow 108-106 victory over the Utah Jazz on Sunday and a previous game against the same team where he also did not play.
Head coach JJ Redick has opted not to utilize Vanderbilt, even in a game against the Milwaukee Bucks on November 15, where the Lakers were missing key players like LeBron James and Rui Hachimura. In that game, Vanderbilt managed to play only eight minutes, emphasizing concerns about his place in the rotation, given that he played less than most teammates, including rookie Nick Smith Jr. and Adou Thiero.
The stats speak for themselves; Vanderbilt is averaging 4.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game, with shooting percentages of 44.0% from the field and a disappointing 28.6% from three-point range. His struggles from long distance have made him a liability offensively, as the Lakers seem to play with a man down whenever he’s on the court.
Prior to the season, there was optimism about Vanderbilt’s performance; he had reportedly shown signs of better shooting during training camp, with improvements in his mechanics. However, that promise has not translated into effective play during actual games, leading to concerns about the four-year, $48 million contract extension he received in 2023, which is now weighing heavily on the team’s flexibility.
Additionally, the injury to Deandre Ayton due to a knee contusion in the latest game introduces an element of uncertainty. Should Ayton miss significant time, it could create an opportunity for Vanderbilt to step up, potentially being utilized at the center position.
Looking ahead, the Lakers are currently holding a strong 12-4 record and will face the Los Angeles Clippers next. The clash is set for Tuesday at 11 PM ET, and Vanderbilt will be hoping to break his current streak of inactivity and contribute to his team’s efforts in the derby match against their city rivals.