Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt is expected to come back this season after his foot injury, as reported by The Athletic’s Jovan Buha.
“The latest information I had was that he is making progress,” Buha said on Saturday, March 9, on his YouTube channel. “It seems likely that he will return this season.”
However, it's unknown whether Vanderbilt will return to play for the Lakers before the playoffs or play-in tournament.
“The timing is the key,” Buha said. “Will it be two weeks from now? Will it be four weeks from now? When he returns matters – if he can come back in the final week of the regular season, that’s better than nothing.”
Buha added that returning from another leg injury can be tricky for Vanderbilt, who depends on his side-to-side movements and athleticism in his key defensive plays.
“It's difficult to integrate such an important player with so little time left, especially given that when he returned after missing the first 20 games, it was clear that he took a while to regain his rhythm and strength,” Buha explained. “So another leg injury like this can be challenging to recover from. However, everything I have heard indicates that he is moving in a positive direction.”
Vanderbilt got injured during the Lakers’ impressive 114-105 win over the Celtics in Boston without LeBron James and Anthony Davis on February 1.
Buha also mentioned that the Lakers have not yet decided whether Vanderbilt will need season-ending surgery. When he’s healthy, Vanderbilt is the Lakers’ most versatile defender.
Anthony Davis’ Injury
Davis’ availability for Sunday’s highly anticipated game against the No. 2 Minnesota Timberwolves is uncertain, according to the NBA's official injury report as of 5:30 p.m. ET.
Davis sustained a left shoulder injury early in the fourth quarter when Giannis Antetokounmpo collided with his shoulder while driving to the basket.
“I couldn’t move my shoulder after that, but [I will] receive treatment and see how I feel tomorrow,” Davis informed reporters with his shoulder heavily wrapped after D’Angelo Russell led them to a tense victory against the 123-122 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, March 8.
James also remains uncertain due to a left ankle injury.
Russell achieved a season-high 44 points, including the game-winning shot, with Davis only scoring two points from free throws due to shoulder discomfort and James being absent.
D’Angelo Russell Turns Public Humiliation into Motivation
Russell, who had been consistently rumored to be traded, expressed his built-up emotions during his postgame interview.
“Public humiliation has only shaped me into the competitor you see today,” Russell told reporters. “I am always confident and unafraid of confrontation. I want to face challenges. Let's get all the smart players together and discuss it. I have confidence in my contribution to the game, so wherever I go, I am self-assured.”
Since reclaiming his starting position on January 13, Russell has been averaging 22.8 points, 6.4 assists, and 3.3 rebounds while shooting 45.8% from three-point range on an impressive 8.6 attempts per game.
