Lakers’ JJ Redick, Jarred Vanderbilt get caught in heated moment during Thunder game

The Los Angeles Lakers, after seemingly having learned their lesson, decided to just field a shorthanded lineup on Tuesday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder — with LeBron James being held out of action. This meant that a few Lakers players who don’t usually get playing time will be getting their chance. One of those players is Jarred Vanderbilt, who’s mostly been out of head coach JJ Redick’s rotation this season.

It looks as though there is some frustration from Vanderbilt towards Redick and vice versa, if their heated interaction on the bench on Tuesday is any indication.

In the second quarter, Redick wasted no time calling a timeout to yank Vanderbilt out of the game, subbing him out after just 16 seconds have passed in the period. Vanderbilt did not take too kindly to this and they got into a bit of a shouting match — with Jake LaRavia having to hold the furious forward back.

The broadcast caught a little bit of the back and forth: https://t.co/abjjCTCRh1 pic.twitter.com/LBvrGigfXc

— Khobi Price (@khobi_price) April 8, 2026

It’s not quite clear why Redick is being this hard on Vanderbilt, and it looks like Vanderbilt is simply frustrated since he’d been in the doghouse for most of the 2025-26 season. All indications are pointing to this being Vanderbilt’s final season with the Lakers, especially when they’re in need of floor-spacers in a Luka Doncic-led team.

The Lakers may have outgrown Jarred Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt was a welcome addition for the Lakers when they brought him in back in 2023. He gave the Lakers a versatile defensive weapon who was capable of defending both guards and forwards. Alas, the ability to shoot open threes consistently has never been more important in the NBA, and he’s never going to be respected from beyond the arc.

There are some games where the Lakers need Vanderbilt’s energy and hustle. But it looks like Redick feels as though the cons of having him out on the court far outweigh the pros.

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