Lakers head coach JJ Redick addressed Jarred Vanderbilt’s recent benching, praising the forward’s professionalism and “stay‑ready” work while acknowledging a numbers crunch created by LeBron James’ return and the team’s preference for a nine‑man rotation.
“He’s been good. He’s been a pro, he’s been great in the most recent stay-ready that we had this week. He was great. He’s been a great teammate,” Redick said.
JJ Redick on how Jarred Vanderbilt has handled being out of the rotation: pic.twitter.com/a9AehD6MNu
— Daniel Starkand (@DStarkand) December 2, 2025
Redick’s comments came as Vanderbilt logged six consecutive DNPs despite being healthy, a sharp turn after opening the season as a regular contributor. The coach framed the decision as situational rather than punitive, citing rotation compression with LeBron active and the need for consistent impact in targeted areas to justify minutes within a tighter lineup structure.
Vanderbilt appeared in the first 14 games of the season, including two starts, averaging 4.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 18.4 minutes. His defensive activity and tempo helped at times, but offensive limitations, highlighted by 28.6% shooting from three, factored into the current rotation choice, per reporting following Redick’s remarks.
Redick emphasized that playing time would be earned and that Vanderbilt’s approach has remained exemplary, pointing to a recent “stay‑ready” session where the forward stood out. The messaging underscores the staff’s expectation of specific, repeatable contributions to secure a spot when the rotation tightens, particularly with lineups recalibrated around LeBron’s usage and the team’s spacing needs.
The situation illustrates how returning stars reshape minutes distribution and role clarity. Vanderbilt’s defensive versatility continues to be valued by the organization, Redick has previously lauded his energy and disruptive impact, but the pathway back hinges on offensive consistency and fit within the nine‑man framework the Lakers are leaning on post‑return.
