Jarred Vanderbilt’s Continued Absence Raises Eyebrows as Lakers Fall Flat vs. Suns
The Lakers' seven-game winning streak came to a screeching halt Monday night in Phoenix, and there was no mistaking the energy gap between the two teams. The Suns brought the juice.
The Lakers? Not so much.
Phoenix ran away with a 125-108 win, and while there’s plenty to break down from that performance, one question continues to loom larger with each passing game: Where is Jarred Vanderbilt?
For the sixth straight contest, Vanderbilt didn’t log a single minute. Another DNP, and this one might’ve been the most head-scratching of them all.
A Game Crying Out for Energy
Let’s start with the obvious: Los Angeles looked flat. This was the Lakers’ third game in four nights, and it showed.
The legs weren’t there, the rotations were a step slow, and the effort just didn’t match what Phoenix brought to the floor. The Suns forced 22 turnovers-22-and turned those into 32 points.
That’s not just sloppy basketball; that’s the kind of stat that screams lack of intensity.
This was exactly the type of game where Vanderbilt’s high motor and defensive tenacity could’ve made a difference. He’s not a volume scorer, but his calling card has always been his ability to bring energy, crash the glass, and defend multiple positions. And yet, he remained glued to the bench.
The LeBron Effect and the Numbers Crunch
There’s been a clear shift in the rotation since LeBron James returned to the lineup. With the King back, Vanderbilt has been out. And while that kind of domino effect happens in a deep roster, this particular scenario is puzzling-especially considering Marcus Smart was sidelined for the third straight game with a back issue.
Head coach JJ Redick offered some insight into the decision after the loss. He acknowledged that he’d spoken with Vanderbilt even before LeBron’s return, outlining expectations and areas where improvement was needed.
“I had communicated to him, even before LeBron came back, that there were certain things that he needed to be able to do consistently to play,” Redick said. “There potentially was going to be a numbers crunch … to play a nine-man rotation. That was just the reality.”
It’s a fair point. Redick is trying to keep the rotation tight, and that often means tough decisions.
But it’s also clear that Vanderbilt’s absence isn’t purely situational-it’s performance-based. Redick’s comments suggest there’s still a trust gap that needs to be closed before Vanderbilt earns his way back into the mix.
What’s Really Keeping Vanderbilt Off the Floor?
The defense has never been the issue with Vanderbilt. In fact, that’s what makes his continued absence so surprising. He’s a proven disruptor on that end of the floor, and with Smart out, the Lakers could’ve used someone to step into that gritty, defensive-minded role.
So that leaves offense as the likely sticking point. Vanderbilt’s offensive limitations are well-documented-he’s not a shooter, and his half-court impact can be minimal if he’s not cutting or crashing the boards effectively. But when you’re getting outworked and out-hustled like the Lakers were in Phoenix, it’s fair to wonder if the defensive upside outweighs the offensive concerns.
Especially when players like Maxi Kleber are seeing minutes. No knock on Kleber, but he’s not exactly lighting it up offensively either. If the Lakers are already sacrificing scoring for defense in certain spots, why not give Vanderbilt a look?
What Comes Next?
To Redick’s credit, he didn’t shut the door completely. He made it clear that Vanderbilt’s time could still come.
“At some point,” Redick said, Vanderbilt could be back in the rotation.
For now, though, it’s a waiting game. And for Vanderbilt, the message is clear: stay ready, keep working, and prove you can be trusted on both ends of the floor. Because if the Lakers are going to make a real push this season, they’ll need every bit of defensive versatility and energy they can get.
And right now, one of their best sources of it is sitting on the bench.