Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt is targeting early January for his return after recently experiencing fluid in his left knee during his rehabilitation from offseason procedures to both feet, the team informed ESPN’s Shams Charania and Dave McMenamin on Tuesday.
Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt has yet to make his season debut after undergoing offseason procedures on his feet
Vanderbilt, 25, suffered a right midfoot sprain on Feb. 1, causing him to miss the rest of the 2023-24 season. The injury occurred after Vanderbilt missed the first 20 games last season because of bursitis in his left heel.
Vando was only supposed to miss the 2024-25 preseason and potentially the first few weeks of the regular season.
However, the Lakers announced on Nov. 20 that Vanderbilt’s ramp-up after surgery on his right foot and removing a bone spur in his left foot in May has taken longer than the team anticipated.
Lakers medical update: “During the course of his return-to-play progression, Jarred Vanderbilt developed an effusion in his left knee. This development altered the course of his progression, and the team is currently targeting early January for his return to NBA games.”
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) December 3, 2024
At the time, the Lakers said Vanderbilt had not suffered a setback during the return-to-play process and he would be reevaluated in a couple of weeks.
Fluid buildup in the knee can be caused by a torn ligament, cartilage tear, or broken bones.
Per Charania and McMenamin’s report, Vanderbilt is expected to be examined by team doctors after the Lakers conclude their current road trip at Atlanta on Friday.
Vanderbilt has appeared in just 29 out of 104 games since signing a four-year, $48 million contract in September 2023
Before injuring his right foot last season, Vanderbilt was averaging 10.5 points on 66% shooting, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.3 steals in his past eight games from mid-January until sustaining his injury in Los Angeles’ 114-105 win over the Boston Celtics on Feb. 1.
The 6-foot-8 Vanderbilt has already missed dozens of games during his Lakers tenure.
Since signing a four-year, $48 million contract extension in September 2023, the Kentucky product has appeared in just 29 out of 104 games, including the regular season, in-season tournament, play-in tournament, and playoffs.
Vanderbilt is in the first season of that four-year contract extension.
Through 21 games, Los Angeles has gone 12-9 without Vanderbilt to start this season. The team has lost five of its past seven games, including a disappointing 109-80 loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday.
Although the Lakers rank ninth in offensive rating (114.5), their 24th-ranked defensive rating (117.1) leaves a lot to be desired. Los Angeles is 21st in 3-point attempt rate (39.4%) as well.
The Lakers’ front office has been unable to fully evaluate the needs of its roster since Vanderbilt and Christian Wood remain out. The team is rumored to make a trade for either a young sharpshooter or big man to add depth at center.
