- Jarred Vanderbilt lauded LeBron James and Anthony Davis for being efficient on and off the court
- The forward noted that they made life easier for the other players
- Vanderbilt was one of the best defenders on the Lakers this season
The Los Angeles Lakers made the Western Conference Finals in 2023, despite starting the postseason as a play-in tournament team. The championship experience of LeBron James and Anthony Davis was on clear display in the playoffs, and the two superstars both had solid postseason runs.
Recently, Jarred Vanderbilt opened up on what it’s like to play with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. He noted that the two are “efficient” at what they do and noted that having the two made things easier for the role players on the squad.
“They just so efficient in what they do on and off the court,” Vanderbilt said. “Having guys, they just made the game so much easier for you, they just such high IQ, high-level players that it made our jobs easier.” (1:08:27)
There’s no doubt that putting good players who can fit a role next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis has always been a winning move. That is what the Los Angeles Lakers did at the 2023 trade deadline, and Jarred Vanderbilt’s defense and multi-positional rebounding definitely helped the team throughout the playoffs. There is a clear respect from Vanderbilt for the superstars, and for good reason.
This past season, Jarred Vanderbilt averaged 7.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game during his time with the Utah Jazz and the Minnesota Timberwolves. He is a quality role player, and it’ll be exciting to see what he can do with the Los Angeles Lakers this season.
Jarred Vanderbilt Signed A Long-Term Deal With The Los Angeles Lakers
It is clear that Jarred Vanderbilt was a good acquisition for the Los Angeles Lakers, and a decent fit defensively with Anthony Davis in the frontcourt. The Lakers clearly valued his contributions and decided to lock Vanderbilt in for the long term. This summer, Jarred Vanderbilt signed a new four-year, $48 million contract with the Lakers.
This is definitely a good deal for the Los Angeles Lakers and gives them another tradeable contract down the line. The contract will average out to around $12 million annually and is comparable to what other elite defensive players like Grant Williams signed this summer.
As of right now, Jarred Vanderbilt is only 24 years old, and he still has some time to develop and grow as a player. If he can improve his 3PT shooting, he will become one of the most valuable role players in the league, and we’ll see how he does from range going forward.
Jarred Vanderbilt’s Defense Is Truly Special
There is no doubt that Jarred Vanderbilt’s athleticism and mobility help him be one of the best perimeter defenders in the league. His perimeter defense is insane for his size, as he is 6’8 with a 7’1 wingspan. He did a good job of guarding Stephen Curry during the Los Angeles Lakers’ series against the Golden State Warriors, and Vanderbilt is clearly comfortable switching onto guards. In fact, one NBA scout believes that Vanderbilt is the best guard defender among big men.
It is clear that Jarred Vanderbilt fits well with the Los Angeles Lakers due to his willingness to do the dirty work on the basketball court. It was smart of the Lakers to retain him, and he can have a stellar season next to LeBron James and Anthony Davis next season.
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