The Los Angeles Lakers have been waiting for the better part of two seasons to get a consistent look at what Jarred Vanderbilt brings to the table. Consistency remains elusive, but after missing the Lakers' first 42 games in 2024-25, he's finally returned to the court.
The sample size is too small to draw long-term conclusions, but Vanderbilt has already reminded Los Angeles of what it's been missing.
Vanderbilt made his season debut on Jan. 25 against the Golden State Warriors. He was again available on Jan. 27 when Los Angeles traveled across the country to take on the Charlotte Hornets in a distant second leg of a colossal road trip.
Vanderbilt scored just six points during those two games, but the impact provided was a breath of fresh air nonetheless.
Vanderbilt came up with two points, four rebounds, two offensive boards, two assists, and three steals in just 12 minutes during his season debut. He followed that effort with four points, two rebounds, one offensive board, one assist, and two steals in 13 minutes against the Hornets.
Two games only prove so much, but based on his track record and the Lakers' current flaws, it's difficult to overlook Vanderbilt as the perfect fit for JJ Redick's rotation.
Lakers already remembering what Jarred Vanderbilt brings to the table
Los Angeles has been searching for answers on defense throughout the 2024-25 regular season. The arrival of Dorian Finney-Smith has resulted in an unavoidable uptick in quality, with the Lakers ranking 15th in defensive rating since Jan. 1.
The purple and gold are 22nd on the season in that very statistic, however, with two concerning flaws rearing their head: Perimeter defense and creating turnovers.
Los Angeles currently ranks 25th in both steals per game and points off of turnovers. It's also 18th in opponent three-point field goal percentage, which has admittedly improved over the past month. Since Jan. 1, the Lakers are 15th in that same statistic—after ranking 20th through Dec. 31.
Finney-Smith deserves credit once again for his impact in that regard, but the return of Vanderbilt showcases how Los Angeles could realistically be elite in both regards.
The Lakers need to find a center who can enable Anthony Davis to defend more freely, but Redick has a new luxury: Options along the perimeter. Max Christie, Finney-Smith, and Vanderbilt have all proven to be strong defenders, with the latter two arguably deserving elite acclaim.
With a trio of high-level on-ball defenders who fight hard off the ball, as well, the Lakers can take their ranking of No. 15 and build successfully upon it.
The unfortunate truth is that Vanderbilt will be a trade candidate ahead of the Feb. 6 deadline. Los Angeles needs to improve at center and his contract could help complete a deal. One simply can't help but keep their eyes open as Vanderbilt navigates a return from an extended injury absence.
In the meantime, the Lakers are receiving a compelling preview of how great their defense could be with a healthy Vanderbilt in the rotation.