Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick indicated he is willing to insert forward Jarred Vanderbilt into the starting lineup if the 25-year-old maintains the form he displayed in the club’s second preseason game.
On October 5, 2025, at Chase Center in San Francisco, Vanderbilt recorded nine points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals in a 129-123 win over the Golden State Warriors. He also connected on a corner three-pointer, underscoring offseason work designed to improve his perimeter shooting.
Redick praises offseason progress
Speaking to Spectrum SportsNet after the game, Redick highlighted Vanderbilt’s summer preparation. “I’ve been very impressed by just the amount of work that he’s done this summer on his game,” the coach said. “His body is significantly better than this time last year… If he can be a consistent three-point shooter for us, that unlocks a lot.”
Starting role remains open
Redick noted that last season’s Lakers used 24 different starting lineups and said every position is again up for grabs. “People are gonna earn minutes,” he explained. “I’m of course open to things… Everything’s gonna have to be earned.”
The Lakers value Vanderbilt’s perimeter defense, but injuries and inconsistent outside shooting limited him to 29 regular-season appearances in 2024-25. This summer marked his first fully healthy offseason in two years.
Team competitiveness also improves
Redick added that he was encouraged by the overall competitiveness against Golden State, calling the effort a step forward from the team’s preseason opener.
Vanderbilt will continue to audition for a larger role when the Lakers resume exhibition play later this week.
Source: Lakers Nation
