When the Los Angeles Lakers traded Russell Westbrook in February, Jarred Vanderbilt, one of the three players they obtained for him, was thought by some to be a mere throw-in.
But he quickly established himself as a key member of their rotation. He contributed to the team in an important area it was struggling in, and fans quickly adopted him as one of their favorite players.
Vanderbilt still has room for growth, and he’s just 24 years of age, so he could still be on an upward trajectory. But he has already become the type of player Los Angeles may not want to be without.
Vanderbilt's regular-season stats in 26 games with the Lakers
24.0 minutes
7.2 points
6.7 rebounds
1.6 assists
1.2 steals
0.2 blocks
52.9 percent field-goal shooting
30.3 percent 3-point shooting
78.4 percent free-throw shooting
Vanderbilt's 2022-23 playoff stats
16.5 minutes
4.6 points
3.2 rebounds
0.8 assists
0.7 steals
0.8 blocked shots
40 percent field-goal shooting
24.1 percent 3-point shooting
70 percent free-throw shooting
Takeaways
Vanderbilt quickly established himself as a defensive standout for the Lakers. At 6-foot-8, it was first thought he could only guard frontcourt players, but he showed he could also do the job on wings and even small guards such as Ja Morant.
In only his third game with the team, Vanderbilt was moved into the starting lineup, where he remained for almost the entirety of the regular season and the playoffs.
His effectiveness declined in the playoffs, however, and his playing time dropped. One reason was his offensive ineptness. He is a poor and reluctant 3-point shooter, which allows teams to help off him and clog the lane. In addition, he has trouble catching passes in the paint and finishing near the basket when pressured.
Final grade: C-plus/B-minus
