Will Jarred Vanderbilt Play Tonight vs Spurs? Lakers Injury Report Amid Latest Bronny James Update

The NBA returns to Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Lakers had to reschedule their games this week due to devastating wildfires impacting the city. This unfortunate crisis has disrupted countless lives, including those of the Lakers organization. The matchup between the Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs, originally set for Friday, had to be pushed to Monday because of the fires.

The Lakers are on a two-game losing streak, and things got especially ugly on Tuesday against the Dallas Mavericks. What makes this loss even worse? The Mavericks were missing their top stars, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, and the Lakers still couldn’t get the job done.

The idea of having Jarred Vanderbilt back on the court is a game-changer. After a long recovery from foot surgery, he’s been making significant strides in rehab. It’s not just about him returning—it’s about what he could add. Nevertheless, it looks like it’s not written in the stars for Vanderbilt yet. The 25-year-old has missed the entire season after undergoing surgeries on both of his feet. While he practiced with South Bay last Friday, he’s still recovering from right foot surgery and has been ruled out against the Spurs.

“We want to give him more exposure to live play against professionals before we set sort of a target date. But it is imminent that he’ll be back with us within hopefully the next few weeks. . .no setbacks, lots of progress. . .he’s close.” said JJ Redick, Lakers HC.

A fresh addition to the list is Bronny James. James is now dealing with an illness, and the Lakers have listed him as questionable. This onset occurred after he finally bounced back from a heel injury in November. Before the matchup, let’s take a look at all the names on the injury report and what their depth chart could look like.

The Lakers will have to make up for the defense that Jarred Vanderbilt brings on board

For Monday’s game against the Spurs, both Anthony Davis and LeBron James are listed as probable. Davis, still dealing with left plantar fasciitis, has played through the pain and managed solid performances in his last three games. During that stretch, he’s averaged 23 points, 14.7 rebounds, 3 assists, 3.3 blocks, and 1 steal in nearly 37 minutes a night. As for LeBron, he’s been in five consecutive games and seems likely to make it six. Over those games, he’s been putting up 26 points, 8 assists, and 6.6 rebounds in about 34 minutes per game.

On the flip side, Jalen Hood-Schifino will be out Monday, still sidelined since December 1 because of a left hamstring strain. Christian Wood, who’s recovering from offseason knee surgery, won’t suit up either, as he’s yet to make his season debut. So, while Davis and LeBron are pushing through injuries, the Lakers will be without a couple of key players. But hey, that’s the NBA grind, right? Let’s see how they handle it.

With their last two matchups showing they know how to handle San Antonio, the Lakers just need to bring their A-game. The Spurs have a solid defense, but if L.A. hits their perimeter shots, they’ll have the advantage. Wembanyama’s a huge challenge, and Davis will need to step up. The Lakers need to come out strong with fresh legs, purpose, and energy—ready to honor their city and get back in the win column.