It had been 329 days since Jarred Vanderbilt had played in an organized basketball game, but that did not stop the springy power forward from showing everyone that he still has an immense amount of talent even despite falling into the second round of the 2018 NBA draft.
In just three minutes and 53 seconds, Vanderbilt showed everyone why Nuggets president of basketball operations Tim Connelly felt that he was a lottery talent that was plagued by injuries. In his NBA debut, Vanderbilt scored his first career point on a free throw, had a couple extremely nifty passes including his first NBA assist on a full-court bounce pass, and also managed to inhale three rebounds in just under four minutes
“I am so happy for him,” Vanderbilt’s locker mate Will Barton said after Vanderbilt’s NBA debut. “I was ecstatic. Just proud of him. For him not to play basketball really in a full year — didn’t get to play summer league or preseason — and just to step onto a NBA court after that long period of time and get out there with confidence and play hard; that was big.”
Prior to the Nuggets tipping off against the Phoenix Suns on Friday night, an abrupt change to Denver’s roster was announced as Nikola Jokic was suspended for leaving the immediate vicinity of the bench as Mason Plumlee and Derrick Favors got into a shoving match when Denver lost to the Jazz in Utah. With Jokic sidelined, the Nuggets needed another big man to be ready to pick up the slack and that ended up being Vanderbilt.
Once Vanderbilt learned that there was a chance he could make his NBA debut that night, the nerves began to set in. He had not played a game in almost an entire year and had not even played a 5-on-5 scrimmage in practice since his injury so he had some nervousness about his conditioning level as well as how his foot would respond to full-speed NBA basketball. The most live-action basketball Vanderbilt has played in the past year is just some 3-on-3 games over the past couple weeks.
If you asked anyone in the Nuggets organization, the would have told you that Vanderbilt was undoubtably nervous.
“You could tell he was nervous and anxious,” Torrey Craig told Mile High Sports after beating the Suns on Friday night. “Even before the game he would tell you that he was super nervous, but I thought he handled himself well. He went out there and played his game and made some good plays.”
“He was nervous, but he did a great job,” Malik Beasley stated.
“I know he did not play until the end of the game and it was well in hand, but Jarred was really nervous about playing,” Malone explained. “He hadn’t played since last February. For him to get over that fear and to go out there and have three or four impactful minutes — I mean, that pass he made was an incredible pass — he showed you that in three minutes and 53 seconds he gets you three rebounds — he is a rebounding machine. I am happy he got those first-game gitters out of the way.”
Vanderbilt himself was even willing to admit that he was having some nerves before playing in his first NBA game.
“I had a couple jitters because I have not played since February of last year,” Vanderbilt said. “It was just amazing to get back out there and start playing again.”
Once Vanderbilt entered the court, those “jitters” that he is referencing disappeared entirely and his talent began to shine.
On Vanderbilt’s very first offensive possession of his career, he was in the low post on the baseline and received a pass from Monte Morris. Once he made his move, he saw Tyler Lydon sneaking down the baseline. Vanderbilt then threw a beauty of a one-handed bounce pass to Lydon, who unfortunately commits an offensive foul. Still, that pass was pretty and the fact that he was able to make that correct decision in his first few seconds on an NBA court is a credit to his decision-making skills.
“That is the type of player that he is,” Craig explained to Mile High Sports. “He is a playmaker; a point forward who can create and make plays for others. He displayed a little bit of that tonight and he is going to have a bright future.”
While Vanderbilt’s passing may surprise some, it did not catch his teammates off guard. He had shown glimpses of his facilitating prowess in practice over the past few weeks, but that does not mean that anyone expected his first career assist to be a one-handed, full-court bounce pass to a streaking Beasley.
“It was a knuckleball,” Beasley said jokingly. “I had to handle it, but it was great to see him. He has great energy, he has been working all summer and all season so I am proud of him.”
By the time Vanderbilt’s three minute and 53 second stint had ended, he grabbed three of the five available defensive rebounds, hit one of his two free throw attempts, and played strong defense including the steal in the clip below.
Vanderbilt can see that Beasley is likely to get hung up on the double-high screens set by Quincy Acy and Mikal Bridges so, instead of letting Troy Daniels turn the corner, he jumps up the floor to contain the ball handler on the perimeter. Because of that anticipation, Denver is able to force a turnover.
Now, after being sidelined due to a foot injury, the next step for Vanderbilt is getting back into shape being that he has not been able to run for the majority of the season. Vanderbilt also needs to get back into a rhythm and used to playing extended minutes. That is why Vanderbilt will be on his way to Delaware to play with the Blue Coats of the G-League despite Nuggets’ head coach Michael Malone noting that he is going to miss Vanderbilt’s defensive versatility.
“I think, right now, the plan is to send him to the G-League and let him play, not just three minutes, but let him play meaningful minutes,” Malone explained. “I would be lying if I said I wouldn’t like to keep him to guard Ben Simmons tomorrow night.”
What is most important about Vanderbilt’s looming G-League stint is that he is welcoming the challenge with open arms. According to a Nuggets source, Vanderbilt was actually willing to go down to the G-Leauge before even making his NBA debut. He knew that his conditioning was not anywhere near where it needed to be and he was not able to completely trust in his foot just yet.
Now, with his NBA debut in the books, Vanderbilt is ready, and excited, to head to the G-League. While some players view being sent to the G-League as a demotion, Vanderbilt is not looking at his situation that way. He is actually quite motivated and ready to get to work.
“Super valuable,” Vanderbilt explained when asked how valuable the G-League can be for him. “Tonight was my first time playing five-on-five since February. Just to get up and down the court, mainly get in shape, get more rhythm, and I think that it will be beneficial for both me and the team.”
Regardless of how long it takes for Vanderbilt to get his rhythm and conditioning back in the G-League, the one thing that is undeniable is that he reminded everybody why he was a five-star recruit in high school. He still has a ton of talent and, as Mason Plumlee said after the game, “he is in the league now.”
For a more detailed breakdown of Jarred Vanderbilt’s strengths and weaknesses, click here.