Jarred Vanderbilt makes long-awaited return to the floor in Lakers’ road game against Warriors

SAN FRANCISCO — After being sidelined for nearly a year, Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt made his return to the floor in Saturday’s road game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center.

When Vanderbilt subbed into the game alongside Dorian Finney-Smith at the 9:30 mark of the second quarter, it marked his first NBA action since he sprained his right midfoot in the Lakers’ road win against the Boston Celtics last Feb. 1.

Vanderbilt had surgery on both of his feet in May.

Coach JJ Redick confirmed pregame that the plan was for Vanderbilt to make his season debut on Saturday – even before Rui Hachimura was held out against the Warriors because of left calf soreness.

“He’ll play,” Redick said. “We have a decent plan for what that lineup looks like and what we’re gonna try to get out there.”

The first lineup that Vanderbilt played alongside also featured Finney-Smith, Austin Reaves, Dalton Knecht and LeBron James in a small-ball lineup.

Vanderbilt also played in a lineup with Reaves, Finney-Smith, Anthony Davis and Max Christie.

He scored his first basket in nearly a year with an offensive rebound and putback less than one minute after subbing into the game.

Vanderbilt played a six-minute stint in the first half, recording two points, two rebounds and two steals, and having an individual plus/minus of plus-3.

The 25-year-old forward is in the first season of a four-year, $48 million contract extension he signed with the Lakers in September 2023, but had only appeared in 30 games of 130 games (regular-season, In-Season Tournament, play-in and playoffs) since signing the extension entering Saturday.

He missed the first 20 games of the 2023-24 season because of a left heel ailment.

“Defense,” Backup center Jaxson Hayes responded when asked earlier in the week what the Lakers have missed the most during Vanderbilt’s extended absence. “His defense is huge. I mean, he’s one of the best defenders in the league. When we have him, it’s just a game changer.”

FIRST START

Finney-Smith made his first start in place of Hachimura, his first time being in the first unit since the team acquired him in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets last month.

“Same thing he’s been doing,” Redick responded when asked what he was looking for from Finney-Smith in the starting lineup. “He’s been awesome. Same thing he’s been doing.”

Finney-Smith entered Saturday with averages of 6.3 points (44.4% shooting, 39.4% on 3s) and 2.9 rebounds in nine games as a Laker.

The 31-year-old forward has been a player Redick has playfully been honest during news conferences when Finney-Smith has had moments of not playing at his best.

“It makes it easier to have a guy in the locker room that you can do that to,” Redick said. “I actually think it’s good for the group. The group knows I’m obviously joking. He knows I’m joking. We played together, it was brief. But we both grew up in Virginia. We both played public high school basketball.

“We both played for Boo Williams. We had a shared experience. I know how he’s wired and he can take it. And it’s all in good fun. I think he knows from Day One what we’ve needed from him. And he’s done it at a really high level.”