Lakers Injury Report: Darvin Ham Updates Status Of 2 Key Role Players
Los Angeles Lakers combo forward Jarred Vanderbilt, who's been on the shelf since February 1st with a right mid-foot sprain, and backup point guard Gabe Vincent, who underwent a surgery to improve a left knee effusion that's been pestering him all season (he's played just five games all year), are expected to be major pieces of the club's postseason plans.
But they have to, you know, actually play for that to happen.
According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, head coach Darvin Ham's latest update was... that there was no update.
"Status quo," Ham said, a common refrain from him these days with regard to these players.
Vanderbilt and Vincent are, ostensibly, the Lakers' best perimeter defenders, although we've seen very little evidence of Vincent being able to approach his Miami Heat-era ferocity during the 2023-24 season with Los Angeles. The Lakers' defense has essentially fallen off a cliff since January, perhaps not coincidentally around the time Vanderbilt and small forward Cam Reddish disappeared from the team's lineup (he returned yesterday for the first time in over a month).
All-Star center Anthony Davis has been a stout force inside the paint, but he can't clean up all their messes beyond it. Vanderbilt and Vincent have already been ruled out for tonight's matchup against the Washington Wizards. But how much longer must they be on the shelf?
