Jarred Vanderbilt talks about incident with Lakers coach JJ Redick

TL;DR

Jarred Vanderbilt had a heated interaction with Lakers coach JJ Redick during a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, leading to limited playing time. However, both have since discussed the incident and emphasized the importance of unity within the team.

Many people noticed that during the Los Angeles Lakers' 123-87 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, forward Jarred Vanderbilt got into a heated interaction with coach JJ Redick and Redick's staff. Some seemed to wonder if it was a sign that Vanderbilt wasn't performing the way he was expected to.

The incident happened early in the game, and he didn't get onto the court again after playing just five minutes. But Redick downplayed the incident afterward, and he gave Vanderbilt significant playing time in the last two games. Following the Lakers' 101-73 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Friday, Vanderbilt said he talked to Redick about the incident and that he put it behind him while stressing the importance of "unity."

Via Lakers Nation:

“We talked about it and moved on from it,” Vanderbilt said. “At this point in the season, we both realized this is the group we’ve got. So it’s definitely not a time for everybody to separate. I think unity, especially with our group right now, is super important.”

It's important to remember that flare-ups such as this one between Vanderbilt and Redick happen throughout the course of a long season. It doesn't necessarily mean that something is amiss — it may simply mean that an uncomfortable truth needs to be discussed and resolved.

With Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves out for at least the next few weeks due to hamstring and oblique strains, respectively, Vanderbilt will likely play a larger role than usual. He may not be able to space the floor or do much offensively, but his rebounding, defense and overall energy will come in handy, especially once the NBA playoffs start.

He's averaging 4.4 points and 4.5 rebounds in 17.4 minutes a game this season.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Jarred Vanderbilt talks about incident with Lakers coach JJ Redick

Q&A

What happened between Jarred Vanderbilt and coach JJ Redick during the Lakers game?

Jarred Vanderbilt had a heated interaction with coach JJ Redick early in the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, resulting in him playing only five minutes.

How did JJ Redick respond to the incident with Jarred Vanderbilt?

JJ Redick downplayed the incident and continued to give Vanderbilt significant playing time in subsequent games.

What did Jarred Vanderbilt say about the importance of team unity after the incident?

Jarred Vanderbilt emphasized the importance of unity, stating that both he and Redick agreed it was crucial for the team to stay together as they move forward in the season.