Jarred Vanderbilt Immediately Makes JJ Redick Regret Benching Him

The Los Angeles Lakers didn’t just beat the Phoenix Suns on Sunday night.

They were reminded of something they had been missing.

Jarred Vanderbilt.

With Austin Reaves sidelined, Vanderbilt was finally reinserted into the rotation — and in just one game, he made it painfully clear why keeping him on the bench had become a costly mistake.

🧱 Vanderbilt Gave the Lakers Exactly What They’ve Lacked

Defense. Energy. Athleticism.

Against Phoenix, Vanderbilt delivered all three.

In just 15 minutes, he finished with seven points, seven rebounds, two steals and one block, while the Lakers outscored the Suns by seven points during his time on the floor. Los Angeles does not survive this game — let alone build a big lead — without his presence.

The box score doesn’t fully capture it.

Vanderbilt disrupted passing lanes, cleaned the glass, and injected urgency into a Lakers team that desperately needed a spark after recent defensive breakdowns, including their loss to the Spurs.

🛑 JJ Redick’s Decision Looks Worse in Hindsight

The Lakers started the season 10–4 with LeBron James out, and Vanderbilt was a consistent part of the rotation during that stretch. When LeBron returned, Vanderbilt was suddenly the odd man out.

The result?

Defense cratered.

With Vanderbilt glued to the bench, perimeter containment vanished, second-chance points piled up, and opponents attacked Los Angeles relentlessly. The Suns exposed those weaknesses earlier this month — but couldn’t do it this time.

Because Vanderbilt was back.

🔄 The Forward Logjam Creates a Tough Choice

This is where JJ Redick’s problem begins.

The Lakers have a rotation crunch at forward with LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, Jake LaRavia, and Vanderbilt all needing minutes. When everyone is healthy, someone sits.

But Vanderbilt’s impact makes it harder to justify him being that player.

Los Angeles is going to score regardless. With Luka Dončić, LeBron, and eventually Reaves, offense is not the issue.

Getting stops is.

⚖️ Offense vs. Defense — The Same Dilemma Returns

Vanderbilt’s lack of shooting will always complicate lineup construction. That hasn’t changed.

What has changed is how obvious the trade-off has become.

When Vanderbilt played, Phoenix struggled to generate clean looks.

When he sat, the Suns made their late push.

That pattern wasn’t a coincidence.

The Lakers need defenders who can guard multiple positions, slow penetration, and change the energy of a game. Vanderbilt does all of that — even if the offense gets tighter.

🧩 Why Vanderbilt Can’t Be Ignored Anymore

Not every matchup requires Vanderbilt.

But games against teams like the Suns, Spurs, and other fast, pressure-heavy offenses absolutely do.

At 26 years old, Vanderbilt remains one of the few players on the roster who can credibly guard almost anyone on the floor. With the Lakers’ three stars all offering limited defensive impact at this stage of their careers, players like Vanderbilt — and Marcus Smart — become essential.

🏁 The Bottom Line

The Lakers needed a win.

They got one.

But more importantly, they got clarity.

Jarred Vanderbilt is not a luxury. He’s a necessity.

JJ Redick may still be searching for the perfect rotation, but one thing is now undeniable: keeping Vanderbilt on the bench is a mistake the Lakers can’t afford to keep making.