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Jarred Vanderbilt’s return to the Los Angeles Lakers will take longer than expected.

The Lakers said in a statement Tuesday that a setback in his recovery from offseason surgery has left the forward with fluid in his left knee, and that he isn’t expected to play until 2025. The team originally hoped he could return in November.

Vanderbilt, 25, is attempting to return from surgery on both feet but has encountered trouble along the way.

“During the course of his return-to-play progression, (he) developed an effusion in his left knee,” the team. “This development altered the course of his progression, and the team is currently targeting early January for his return to NBA games.”

Vanderbilt is a tough defender — something the Lakers could desperately use right now.

The Lakers started out 10-4 but have fallen to 12-9. They are averaging 112.3 points per game but giving up 114.9. The differential of 2.6 points per game is highest among current playoff contenders in the Western Conference.

Vanderbilt has not played since Feb. 1. The Lakers signed him to a four-year, $48 million deal before the 2023-24 season, but injuries limited him to just 29 games. He sat out the first 20 games due to bursitis in his left heel.

Vanderbilt averaged 5.2 points and 4.8 rebounds in 2023-24, below his career averages of 6.1 and 6.4, respectively, with the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz and Lakers since entering the league in 2018-19.

–Field Level Media