The Los Angeles Lakers have been without forward Jarred Vanderbilt since Feb. 1 of the 2023-24 season. And he only played 29 games that season, meaning he hasn’t been a consistent contributor for L.A. since their run to the Western Conference Finals in May of 2023.
Heel and knee injuries have kept him out of the lineup, and it feels as though any sign of progress is usually halted by some setback. But in recent weeks, all the news surrounding Vanderbilt continues to be positive. He is all the way up to playing 5-on-5 in practice, which means a full clear to return to basketball activities could be coming soon.