The Los Angeles Lakers are in a fight in the NBA Western Conference to see if they have enough in their arsenal to challenge the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder, who've dropped only one game so far in the season.
Luka Doncic is pushing himself with his diet to be the best he can be as one of the frontrunners for the MVP award. LeBron James turns 41 in a couple of weeks and still has games where he looks half his age, attempting to slay Father Time. Austin Reaves has taken a giant leap and is on the verge of making his first All-Star Game.
And Jarred Vanderbilt, in his second season on a four-year $48 million deal?
He's surprised J.J. Reddick and the Lakers are even trotting him out to play.
"Kind of here and there, I guess," he mumbled when asked if the coaching team had discussed with him his playing time.
In an interview with local media, Vanderbilt was slouched over and looked disinterested, keeping his answers short and trying not to make eye contact with any cameras.
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When Vanderbilt was brought to the Lakers from the Utah Jazz, the hope was that he could become an elite 3-and-D player who could anchor the team on defense. With the addition of Doncic, it felt like a perfect scenario, as Vanderbilt could sit in the corner and look for open three-point attempts with passes from James, Doncic, or Reaves.
It hasn't translated, though, as his defense has been inconsistent and his offense has been completely non-existent, shooting 26% from three and even struggling to score simple layups.
After being sat out for multiple games due to a lack of success, he was recently reinserted into the lineup during the NBA Cup. For almost any other player in the league making his salary, that would be another day at work.
For Vanderbilt, though, he didn't see it coming: "It was a surprise."
The Los Angeles Lakers play the Phoenix Suns tomorrow night on the road.
Newsweek