Jarred Vanderbilt Could Miss Training Camp, Lakers Reporter Says

One of the reasons the Los Angeles Lakers had a disappointing 2023-24 season is that forward Jarred Vanderbilt was plagued by injuries throughout the season. He missed the first few weeks of the season with heel bursitis, then in early February, he suffered a foot injury that sidelined him for the rest of the year.

He was widely expected to make a full recovery within a few months, and there was even hope he could return in the playoffs.

But he didn’t make it back in the playoffs and had to watch the Lakers get beaten in five games in the first round by the Denver Nuggets. With training camp fast approaching, Los Angeles Times reporter Mike Bresnahan said on the “LakeShow Podcast” that Vanderbilt may not be ready to start the new season.

That’s troubling news for a team that badly needs its ball-handling defense on the perimeter, not to mention its defensive rebounding and overall energy and versatility.

Coming back from a heel injury, he was starting to find his game in January, especially on offense, where he’s considered a liability. He averaged 10.5 points on 66 percent shooting in 22.8 minutes per game over his last eight games and began to figure out how to contribute offensively by getting into the paint and getting involved in transition as a playmaker and finisher.

This article was originally published on LeBron Wire: Lakers reporter says Jarred Vanderbilt could miss training camp