[Saba Sports News] LeBron James expressed his excitement over Jarred Vanderbilt’s four-year, $48 million contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers by sharing the Lakers’ official announcement on his Instagram story, accompanied by “Raising Hands” emojis.
Vanderbilt played a significant role in the Lakers’ turnaround during the 2022-23 season, contributing to their postseason appearance after a challenging start to the campaign.
In the regular season, the 24-year-old forward averaged 7.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.2 steals in 26 games. During the playoffs, his numbers dipped to 4.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 0.7 steals due to reduced playing time.
Nevertheless, Vanderbilt remains an essential defensive asset for the team, second only to Anthony Davis.
With Vanderbilt’s return, the Lakers aim to make a strong playoff run in the 2023-24 season, potentially reaching the NBA Finals after falling short in the Western Conference Finals against the Denver Nuggets last year.
LeBron James and the team will rely on key role players like Vanderbilt to achieve their goals.