After bursting onto the scene in the weeks and months after being traded to the Lakers midseason, Jarred Vanderbilt has spent most of the last two seasons being more of a theory than a reality.
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injuries have limited him to 65 games over the last two years and virtually no consistent run of games. However, after finishing last season injury-free and heading into the offseason with a clean bill of health, Vanderbilt had a chance to finally build on his game and head into a new season without needing to play catch-up.
The results have been evident through the first two preseason games. After being singled out as a standout in training camp, Vanderbilt showed everyone what his teammates and coaches had seen during the first two preseason games.
Particularly on Sunday against the Warriors, Vando finished with nine points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals in 21 minutes of action.
“I’ve been very impressed by just the amount of work that he’s done this summer on his game,” Redick said postgame. “Obviously, his body is significantly better than this time last year or even when the season ended. He’s moving better. His handle is tighter. I’ve never ever seen him make a Euro decel finish. It’s good. He’s working on his game.”
Vando looked like his vintage self against Golden State, which usually shows itself on the defensive end. He opened the game with a steal after cutting an off-ball screen while defending Steph Curry. While he lost battles against Steph throughout the game, he also won some as well, which is one of the most encouraging signs of him being back.
A healthy Vando was once a starter on a playoff team. While the team makeup has changed and those arguments may no longer exist, he’s still a player who can have a big impact on a winning team, which his teammates recognize, too.
“I tell Vando all the time [that] I get way more comfortable when he’s on the floor,” Gabe Vincent said. “Just knowing the edge and the competitive edge he’s bringing, the defensive intensity. He has a high IQ on the offensive side as well. He knows when to get to the next action, when to attack himself. I’ve really enjoyed my time playing with Vando. It’s great to watch him play and great to see him moving well.”
The Lakers are a better team with a healthy Vando as he is one of the most versatile and unique defenders in the league. A summer of health and development has led into a preseason of promise. If everything keeps trending in the right direction, it could pay big dividends for the Lakers this season.
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude.
