Key Player Ruled Out For Lakers-Nuggets Game
Jarred Vanderbilt is coming off a solid year where he played for the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Lakers.
The former Kentucky star averaged 7.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.1 steals per contest while shooting 54.8% from the field.
On Tuesday evening, the Lakers will play their first game of the 2023-24 regular season when they visit the Denver Nuggets in Colorado.
However, they will be without Vanderbilt for the game.
Via Underdog NBA: "Jarred Vanderbilt (heel) ruled out for season opener on Tuesday."
Vanderbilt doesn't put up big numbers, but he is one of their best role players, so this is a significant absence for the Lakers.
The 24-year-old was initially the 41st pick in the 2018 NBA Draft and has played five seasons in the league for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz, Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers.
His career averages are 6.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.0 steals per contest while shooting 57.3% from the field in 244 regular season games.
The Lakers are coming off a year where they were the seventh seed in the Western Conference with a 43-39 record.
They defeated the Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors in the first two rounds of the NBA playoffs but lost to the Nuggets in the Conference Finals.
Meanwhile, the Nuggets are coming off a year where they were the first seed in the Western Conference.
They won the 2023 NBA Championship over Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat (in five games).
