Report: Jarred Vanderbilt ‘eyeing’ Game 3 return for Lakers
The Lakers could be getting a huge boost in the return Jarred Vanderbilt, who could reportedly be set to join the Lakers for Game 3 of the 2024 NBA Playoffs.
After being out since the start of February, the Lakers appear set to reportedly welcome back Jarred Vanderbilt from injury for Game 3. Vanderbilt has been ramping up his rehab with the postseason underway and had been eying an early-to-mid April return.
On Monday, Dave McMenamin of ESPN reported that Vando is aiming to be back for Game 3 against the Nuggets on Thursday.
Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt, out since Feb. 1 with a right midfoot sprain, is eyeing a return to the court as early as Game 3 of L.A.'s first round series with the Denver Nuggets, a source familiar with the situation told ESPN on Monday.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) April 23, 2024
Prior to Game 2 in Denver, Lakers head coach Darvin Ham spoke about Vando, saying he went through an extensive workout during the team’s shootaround on Monday morning. The team was going to see how he responded to that before making the next move.
Darvin Ham says Jarred Vanderbilt went through extensive work at shootaround today and the Lakers are going to see how he responds to determine his progression to returning.
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) April 23, 2024
In his article for ESPN, McMenamin noted that both things were true and that, if his body responds to Monday’s workout, he’ll be available on Thursday.
Vanderbilt has been ramping up his on-court workouts in the past two weeks, the source told ESPN, and participated in one of his most intense workouts yet Monday morning at Ball Arena.
Vanderbilt’s availability will be determined based on how his body responds in the coming days leading up to Thursday’s Game 3 in Los Angeles.
As much as he would provide an on-court boost, and the team sorely needs his rebounding and defense as much as anything else, the team also had a different vibe to it when he was playing in January and February.
The question now will be whether he is fully healthy in his return. Earlier this season when he returned from his heel injury, Vando admitted that he was playing through pain in the early games of his return.
That impacted his performance both in terms of how well and how long he could play. A minutes restriction severely limited his availability, and it wasn’t until nearly a month after his return that he cleared 25 minutes in a game.
That being said, his role likely isn’t going to be very large in any capacity in his return now. The Lakers have found a groove and while they will absolutely welcome Vando back, he won’t be entering the starting lineup. What he will be, though, is a boost off the bench for a Lakers team that has not had much going for it in some time.
Along with Vando, the Lakers could also welcome back Christian Wood in Game 3. The forward is also targeting a return on Thursday after also missing nearly three months.
It’ll create some interesting decisions for Ham with a pair of players who were once fixtures in the rotation returning in what will almost certainly be a must-win game.
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