Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt’s lingering foot issue, which sidelined him for much of last season, appears to still be a concern heading into the new season.
Analyst Mike Bresnahan discussed Vanderbilt’s condition during an episode of Spectrum SportsNet’s “Lakeshow” podcast, expressing doubts about whether the injury has significantly improved over the summer.
Vanderbilt, who took over as the team’s starting power forward after being acquired at the 2023 trade deadline, was limited to just 29 games last season.
His foot problems kept him out of action after February 1, and it seems the recovery process has been slower than anticipated.
“Vando is gonna be interesting,” Bresnahan said. “I’m not sure he’ll be ready for training camp or even for the preseason games. It’s a foot injury. He opted not to have a procedure in-season when he got hurt in February.
“So we’ll see if he’s ready to go. I don’t have a lot of details on it but I’m not sure he’ll be ready for training camp. Regular season is a different story, hopefully he’s ready by then. But nothing concrete on him yet.”
As the Lakers prepare for the upcoming season, Vanderbilt’s health remains a key concern, potentially impacting his availability and the team’s rotation at the power forward spot.
His defensive versatility and energy were valuable to the Lakers’ playoff push last season, making his return an important factor for the team’s depth and performance on both ends of the court.
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