Jarred Vanderbilt’s journey with the Lakers has been anything but smooth - but Sunday night in Phoenix, he reminded everyone why he still matters.
After battling through a frustrating stretch of injuries and falling out of head coach JJ Redick’s rotation, Vanderbilt finally got his number called. And he didn’t waste a second. In just 15 minutes of action, Vanderbilt delivered the kind of gritty, high-energy performance that doesn’t always show up in the box score - but absolutely shows up in the win column.
Let’s start with the hustle. Vanderbilt pulled down seven rebounds, and six of those came on the offensive glass.
That’s not just effort - that’s impact. Those second-chance opportunities kept possessions alive and helped swing momentum in a tight game the Lakers ultimately won 116-114 on the road.
Add in two steals and a +7 plus-minus, and it’s clear: Vanderbilt didn’t just play - he made a difference.
For a guy who’s been riding the bench, that kind of readiness speaks volumes. And Redick took notice.
“This has been a three-week process,” Redick said postgame. “We kept telling him, ‘You’re going to get more opportunities.
You’ve got to stay ready.’ And he was.
He was in the right headspace, and he helped win us the game. Full stop.”
Redick also emphasized that the coaching staff - including assistants Nate McMillan and Scott Brooks - stayed in constant dialogue with Vanderbilt, even during his time out of the rotation. That kind of communication matters. It’s easy to feel forgotten when you’re not seeing the floor, but Vanderbilt stayed locked in, stayed professional, and stayed prepared.
And that’s not new territory for him.
“This isn’t the first time I’ve been in this situation,” Vanderbilt said after the game. “It’s a long season.
It’s still early. I knew the opportunity would come back around.
The biggest thing is being ready - mentally, physically - and being a good teammate.”
That’s the kind of mindset coaches love. And let’s be honest - the Lakers have needed a jolt defensively.
Redick himself didn’t mince words earlier this season, calling the team’s defense “ass.” So when your best perimeter defender is sitting on the bench while the team struggles to get stops, it raises eyebrows.
Yes, Vanderbilt’s offensive limitations are part of the equation. He’s not spacing the floor or creating offense - and in today’s NBA, that can be a tough sell.
But defense, rebounding, hustle - those are winning plays too. And in a game decided by two points, every possession mattered.
Vanderbilt made his count.
Now the question becomes: where does he go from here?
One good game doesn’t guarantee a permanent spot in the rotation. But it does reopen the conversation.
Can Redick find ways to leverage Vanderbilt’s defensive prowess without compromising the team’s offensive flow? Can the Lakers balance lineups to hide his weaknesses and amplify his strengths?
Those are the questions that will shape Vanderbilt’s role moving forward. But one thing’s clear - if the Lakers need energy, defense, and toughness, Vanderbilt is ready to deliver.
He’s shown he can stay ready. Now it’s up to the Lakers to decide how - and when - to use him.