The last we saw Jarred Vanderbilt was in February when the Lakers played against the Boston Celtics. Towards the end of the first half of the matchup, Vando injured his foot while pushing off. He exited the game, limping and shaking his head. The frustration is natural considering the LA wing has appeared in only 29 games this season.

It wouldn’t be too much to say that Vanderbilt is the new Kawhi Leonard, for the season at least. That’s how badly injuries have hit him, one after another. But with just 14 games left for the playoffs, the Purple & Gold ranking 10th in the West, and on a current two-game skid, they surely wouldn’t mind the return of their forward.

It seems like the most recent update by The Athletic’s Jovan Buha might provide some hope. The video below shows “Jarred Vanderbilt working on one-legged shots,” and he looks comfortable taking them. It’s better than nothing. Especially considering that the Celtics’ foot injury he sustained had been non-contact.

Prior to the midfoot sprain, Jarred Vanderbilt had been hounded by a recurring bursitis injury. The instance led him to miss a good chunk of the preseason as well as regular season games. Having had to stay off the court for so long, there was certainly an adjustment period when he did return. But just when the 6’8 forward was getting around to it, he was once again hit with another injury.

However, looking at the recent updates, Vando looks a lot more cheerful. Fortunately so, for, Jarred Vanderbilt’s firm stance has proven absolute essential for the Lakers vying for a better run.

Jarred Vanderbilt’s presence for the Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers acquired Vanderbilt from the Utah Jazz last season. The 24-year-old’s compact on the defensive end and rebounding along with big man, Anthony Davis has been crucial for the team’s defensive excellence. The Lakers have a defensive rating of 117.0 when the Texas center is on the floor. Moreover, with Vando’s absence, the team has witnessed a drop down to 23rd ranking in their defense.

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He’s averaging 5.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists while shooting 66.7% from the field per game. Jarred was one of the main reasons for the Lakers’ postseason success last season. Seeing how he is progressing with the workouts, the team is hopeful for a return soon. Of course, with the current situation, LA will be looking to make it to the play-in, unless we are looking at a late-season surge.

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Anyway, Darvin Ham and his team can do with all the help they can get.