Jarred Vanderbilt, sidelined since the onset of training camp in September, is set to make his much-anticipated return to the Los Angeles Lakers' lineup this Saturday. Plagued by injuries, Vanderbilt's rehabilitation was notably delayed in December due to fluid accumulation in his left knee. His offseason was marked by multiple procedures, including surgery on his right foot and the removal of a bone spur from his left foot in May. As the Lakers prepare to face the Golden State Warriors at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC, Vanderbilt has been medically cleared to make his season debut.
The Lakers have undergone significant changes during Vanderbilt's absence. Coach JJ Redick now leads the team, having taken over from Darvin Ham. Additionally, a major roster change saw D'Angelo Russell traded to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith. Vanderbilt will now compete with Finney-Smith for playing time in the Lakers' rotation.
Vanderbilt's last appearance on the court was marred by a right midfoot sprain on February 1, which sidelined him for the remainder of the previous season. Despite signing a lucrative four-year, $48 million contract extension in September 2023, he has been largely unavailable, participating in only 29 out of 129 games since then. Before his injury setbacks, Vanderbilt was showcasing impressive stats, averaging 10.5 points on 66% shooting, accompanied by 5.4 rebounds and 2.3 steals over eight games.
The forthcoming game against the Warriors marks a crucial moment for Vanderbilt and the Lakers. With the team's recent transformations and his return to health, Vanderbilt's performance could significantly influence the Lakers' dynamics on the court.
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