Why Lakers, JJ Redick Should Start Jarred Vanderbilt

The Los Angeles Lakers have spent much of the season searching for consistency in their lineups, but the answer may already be right in front of them. Jarred Vanderbilt has quietly made one of the strongest cases on the roster to be a full-time starter, and the numbers over the last four games make that argument hard to ignore.

Watching Vando play Defense when he’s healthy is inspiring.

This dude is running a freakin’ track meet every night.

Just still so amazed at how spry & fluid he looks. pic.twitter.com/yLOew6cn4V

— Lakers Legacy (@LakersLegacyPod) January 24, 2026

Over that stretch, Vanderbilt leads the entire team with a +35 combined plus-minus, the highest mark on the roster. What makes that number even more impressive is how little his scoring factors into it.

He is averaging just 4.3 points per game in that span, while shooting 60 percent from three and 50 percent overall, maximizing efficiency without needing the ball.

Two of the top three players behind Vanderbilt in plus-minus over those same four games are Drew Timme and LeBron James. That detail matters because it reinforces what the eye test already shows. When Vanderbilt, Timme, and LeBron share the floor, the Lakers consistently win their minutes.

That trio has formed the backbone of some of the team’s most effective lineups. When paired with Marcus Smart and Deandre Ayton, the Lakers have leaned into size, physicality, and defensive versatility, and the results have followed. Those lineups defend at a higher level, rebound more consistently, and generate offense without forcing the issue.

Jarred Vanderbilt’s Role

Vanderbilt’s role is central to that success. Defensively, he sets the tone. He switches across positions, closes space quickly, and cleans up breakdowns with effort plays that do not show up in box scores. His presence allows LeBron to conserve energy defensively while still maintaining structure on that end.

Offensively, Vanderbilt keeps things simple. He moves without the ball, takes open shots, and does not stall possessions. His improved three-point shooting forces defenses to at least acknowledge him, which keeps spacing intact for LeBron and Luka Dončić to operate.

Vanderbilt also brings something this team has been missing for a while. He is an instigator. The kind of player opponents hate dealing with, but teammates love having on their side.

He is constantly in the middle of actions, picking up full court, talking, bumping cutters, and making every possession uncomfortable.

The Lakers have lacked that edge and physical annoyance for stretches of the season, and Vanderbilt reintroduces it in a way that raises the team’s overall intensity. Having someone who embraces that role has been refreshing and has clearly translated to winning minutes.

vando squaring up with zubac then chirping brook lopez…i love whatever is wrong with him pic.twitter.com/lZGu5b9suW

— sarah (@slothanova) January 23, 2026

Starting Vanderbilt is not about chasing points. It is about putting the Lakers’ most impactful combinations on the floor as early as possible. The data shows it. The lineups confirm it. The flow of the game supports it.

When Vanderbilt, Timme, and LeBron are on the floor together, the Lakers look more connected, more physical, and more difficult to play against. That is not a coincidence. It is lineup chemistry revealing itself in real time.

If the Lakers want their best basketball from the opening tip, Jarred Vanderbilt should be in the starting lineup.