Lakers coach Darvin Ham make Unexpected Statement.
Los Angeles Lakers coach Darvin raised hopes that Jarred Vanderbilt, who turned 25 on Wednesday, April 3, could return this season.
Ham told reporters before the Lakers faced the Washington Wizards that Vanderbilt will have his right midfoot sprain re-evaluated early next week back in Los Angeles, per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
Vanderbilt suffered the injury during the Lakers’ inspiring 114-105 win over the Celtics in Boston without LeBron James and Anthony Davis on February 1.
Vanderbilt has missed 27 straight games since then including the game against the Wizards. The Lakers are 18-8 since Vanderbilt went out entering Wednesday’s match at the nation’s capital, the finale of a six-game road trip.
On March 26, Ham told reporters that Vanderbilt has been ramping up his conditioning but he hasn’t returned to contact activities or practice yet.
Then after the Lakers’ 116-104 win in Brooklyn, where Gabe Vincent returned from knee surgery, on March 31, Ham revealed Vanderbilt is undergoing what Vincent did.
“Just not to skip any steps,” Ham told reporters. “To keep taking things day by day and don’t listen to whoever is out there putting target dates on his return.
Maximize each day, try to get better each day and just stick to the plan. Gabe had to do the same. JV has to do the same thing as well. Just stick to the plan.”
The re-evaluation could be a step in the right direction.
Vanderbilt looked healthy during his pregame workout in Washington.