Jarred Vanderbilt Keeps Close Friendship With Anthony Edwards Despite Lakers-Timberwolves Rivalry
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Los Angeles Lakers forward Jarred Vanderbilt said his relationship with Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards remains strong even though the two regularly square off on the court.
Edwards recently named Vanderbilt as the teammate he misses most from his time in Minnesota. Asked about the comment, Vanderbilt replied, “That’s my dog… we played together a couple of years, so me and him got a tight bond even to this day. I know we compete and battle, that’s what we do — we’re both high-level competitors. But at the end of the day, it’s all love between me and him.”
Vanderbilt, 25, appeared sparingly with the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazz before earning a consistent role in Los Angeles. While limited as a scorer, he is valued for energy, defense and rebounding — qualities that make him a complementary piece alongside stars such as Luka Doncic and LeBron James.
Whenever the Lakers face Minnesota, Vanderbilt is typically assigned to guard Edwards. Their most recent matchup came on Feb. 27, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena, adding another chapter to what has become one of the more intriguing individual battles between the teams.
This season, head coach JJ Redick expects to lean on Vanderbilt to defend elite perimeter players. Guard Gabe Vincent said he feels “more comfortable” when Vanderbilt is on the floor, underscoring the forward’s value within the locker room.
Redick has not finalized a starting lineup and did not rule out Vanderbilt as a possible starter, noting the additional front-court depth available to the Lakers.
The Lakers open training camp later this month, with Vanderbilt poised to play a pivotal defensive role — and to renew his on-court rivalry with Edwards whenever the Timberwolves appear on the schedule.
Source: LakersNation.com
