Lakers Give Jarred Vanderbilt Bench Minutes
Coach JJ Redick has started using Jarred Vanderbilt in stretches off the bench behind Walker Kessler after opening the season out of the rotation.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Basketball
Lakers coach JJ Redick began using Jarred Vanderbilt in stretches off the bench, ending a stretch in which Vanderbilt opened the season in the coach's doghouse. Vanderbilt has played almost 38 minutes over the past two games.
Why it matters
Vanderbilt's role shift gives the Lakers a defensive option who can guard three positions and provides size and strength at center behind Walker Kessler. The change tests how the team balances its backup frontcourt.
Vanderbilt has played almost 38 minutes across the past two games on a two-year, $26 million contract. The extraction does not specify his per-game averages or how his minutes will be distributed going forward.
The players
JJ Redick
Redick is the Los Angeles Lakers head coach who controls the team's rotation decisions.
Jarred Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt is a Los Angeles Lakers forward known for defense and versatility across three positions.
The details
Redick relented last week and began using Vanderbilt in stretches off the bench behind Walker Kessler. Vanderbilt is a defensive player who can guard three positions, and the Lakers' backup center is Kevon Looney.
Timeline
Start of season: Vanderbilt opened in Redick's doghouse.
Last week: Redick began using Vanderbilt off the bench.
Past two games: Vanderbilt played almost 38 minutes combined.
February: Trade deadline, when the Lakers are likely to keep their current roster.
Season Trajectory
The move comes as the Lakers weigh their options before the February trade deadline, when the roster is likely to remain set. Adjusting the bench now shapes how the team's backup frontcourt looks heading into that window.
For fantasy managers, Vanderbilt's bench role and roughly 38 recent minutes make him a more relevant option than he was at the start of the season. Lakers fans can track whether Kevon Looney or Walker Kessler gets the minutes behind him as the rotation settles.
The takeaway
Watch how Redick divides minutes between Vanderbilt and Kessler, since that split will show whether the bench role lasts. The answer will matter for both the Lakers' depth and any roster change before February.
What happens next
The Lakers' roster is expected to be finalized before the February trade deadline.
Further reading
For more on the team's rotation and roster moves, explore Basketball coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Heavy.
