Praise for Jarred Vanderbilt is rarely loud in LakeShow. Seven seasons in, many fans still wait for clear growth, and some question why JJ Redick keeps him in the rotation. The noise around him is real. But inside the locker room, Vanderbilt has a powerful believer.

LeBron James continues to mentor him, refusing to give up on his teammate. Vando’s got a very limited but effective offensive style. That showed against the Memphis Grizzlies today. In what was a close match until the final quarter, the forward came in clutch at a crucial time. However, he still needs to improve on his shot selection and jumpers. Something LeBron James said after the game.

“We also need him to knock down a corner shot,” the 41-year-old star said.

Vando’s outside shooting and inability to complete layups have been a sticking point. James, however, thinks that if the 26-year-old masters that, he’d be a force that other teams are not prepared for.

“Teams are not gonna guard him. They kinda disrespect him over there, not even contesting the shots.”

James also said that Vando has “put a lot of work every day in practice just shooting that same shot.” Which means he’s taken note of the criticism and James’ advice and is working on it.

The LA Lakers are on shaky ground, losing four out of 5 games in the last 10 days of 2025. They are shorthanded, too, and have as many defensive flaws as their turnovers. During this, fans question why Redick puts Vanderbilt in the rotation to score single digits. Tonight changed the opinion about him ever so slightly.

Jarred Vanderbilt came in clutch to help Lakers win

Jarred Vanderbilt’s strengths usually lie in rebounding. Rob Pelinka took a big gamble on his defensive skills by signing him to a $48 million extension in 2023. Two years later, fans haven’t seen a return on that investment.

They believe he’s not even trying. LeBron James says he is, in fact, working on his outside shot.

Vanderbilt was listed as questionable on the injury report with right leg soreness. Yet he managed to enter the game and did what Bron and Redick are probably trying to tell us all along. He had sparse minutes across all four quarters but initially scored only two points in Q2.

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The team let the lead vanish too many times, a common trait of this Lakers squad. When it looked like the Grizzlies would leap ahead, Vando came in clutch. He hit a three-pointer in the last minutes of the game that put the Lakers up 116-110. They extended the lead from there and won 128-121.

Vanderbilt had a total of 5 points tonight with 2 rebounds and 1 assist, block, and steal each across 20 minutes on the floor. He’s made a three in eight straight games, which might sound hyperbolic. But he’s made crucial threes at the right time.

Ironically, Vando was a lot more productive while Bron missed a month’s worth of the season opener. Injuries hampered his consistency, though he did get boards. He, however, draws inspiration from the very same guy.

On James’ 41st birthday, Vando told reporters that King James’ high basketball IQ still amazed him. “As far as his [James] IQ and his mentality, it’s still extremely high, so I think that’s what separates him.” James’ indisputable quality sounds aspirational for Vando. Hopefully, he can heed his advice too.