It didn’t take long for Los Angeles Lakers fans to begin using the popular Spider-Man meme (when referring to Alex Caruso) after just minutes of watching Jarred Vanderbilt play. Caruso, as we all know, was a vital piece of the Lakers’ 2020 championship run, whose impact was always just so much more than what the box score would show.
His instant connection with LeBron James, the winning plays he would consistently make, and that he just always seemed to be in the right spot at the right time.
Unfortunately, when Caruso hit free agency in the summer of 2021, the Lakers never budged from their initial “lowball” offer. Costing them not only the fan favorite but one of the more impactful role players in all of the NBA.
In Comes Jarred Vanderbilt.
Vanderbilt was part of the three-team deal that also included former all-star point guard D’Angelo Russell and marksman Malik Beasley. After just five games, however, you can already make the argument that the 6-foot-9 forward, who is making just over $4 million a year, was the most valuable part of this trade.
This is no knock on Russell or Beasley because they have been a breath of fresh air in their own right, but the versatility Vanderbilt provides is going to help elevate this group to new levels, especially on the defensive end.
How Jarred Vanderbilt has been the new version of Alex Caruso for the Lakers:
The Laker faithful have already fallen in love with the playstyle of Jarred Vanderbilt, part of that due to the similarities he and Alex Caruso share. Whether it is flying in for offensive boards, taking the assignment of slowing down the opposing team’s best player, or providing that jolt of energy that can be the difference in winning or losing.
Sunday afternoon against the Dallas Mavericks, Vanderbilt displayed all three.
Jarred Vanderbilt ( @JVando ) is an X factor for the Lakers🔥 15 points 17 rebounds 4 steals and guarding the best players defensively pic.twitter.com/MTlWEuvSMV
— Swish Cultures (@swishcultures_) February 27, 2023
How many times has Alex Caruso drawn an offensive foul or ignited the Lakers team simply off of one play? The deflections, the diving for loose balls, knowing exactly when and where to cut. This is what the Lakers have again in Vando.
Vanderbilt is the definition of a winning basketball player. He can guard every position on the floor, and not just guard it, guard it at a high level.
In the Lakers’ win over the Pelicans the day before the all-star break, he made it extremely difficult on Brandon Ingram, never allowing him to get into his usual rhythm. And just Sunday afternoon, basically took Luka Doncic out of the game from the second quarter on (Forcing the MVP candidate into 5 turnovers as the main defender).
Not often are you given a second chance in the NBA… Rob Pelinka and co. have hopefully learned from their mistakes and won’t let this one slip away.
To put it in perspective, just look at the past three NBA champions:
- 2020 Lakers
- 2021 Bucks
- 2022 Warriors
Every single one has had a guy like Vanderbilt who doesn’t care about his numbers and embraces the “dirty work” role. Caruso with the Lakers, P.J. Tucker with Milwaukee, Gary Payton II with Golden State.
I’m not saying the Lakers are going to win the Finals this year, but they are getting back to that recipe of success that helped them raise banner No. 17 three years ago. Like Caruso, Vanderbilt is already a fan favorite here in LA. He obviously isn’t near the ‘goats’ status yet, but in a season or two he very well could be.
The Jarred Vanderbilt All-NBA Defensive team agenda for next season begins now!