Jarred Vanderbilt making ‘real’ progress in return to court, knee issue has dissipated

The Lakers got some positive injury news on Jarred Vanderbilt on Sunday as his rehab is trending in a positive direction.

The Lakers have a lot going for them of late. On top of winning eight of the last 11, they added Dorian Finney-Smith in a trade as well.

Even better than all that, though, is the news that Jarred Vanderbilt looks to be nearing a return. After a setback at the end of 2024, the update provided by head coach JJ Redick ahead of Sunday’s game against the Rockets was a much more positive one.

While rehabbing his foot surgeries from the offseason, Vando suffered a setback in early December. The knee effusion was slated to keep him out of the lineup until early January.

Fortunately, things seem to still be on track for him to return. Recently, Vando returned to the practice court to do non-contact portions. By all accounts, things are trending upward.

The Lakers’ schedule in January also should help them. A whole host of games in Los Angeles means Vando can rehab at the facility, too.

When he does return, it’ll be just shy of a year after he initially suffered a midfoot sprain against the Celtics. The Lakers can sorely use his presence on the floor as he’s a game-changer, particularly defensively.

For now, though, it’s to the point where I’ll believe Vando is back once he gets on the court. That being said, all the news is currently optimistic and everything seems like it’s trending toward a return in the near future.

You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude.