The Los Angeles Lakers will be without three big men when they pay a visit to the Milwaukee Bucks at the Fiserv Forum on Thursday, per the latest ESPN NBA injury report.
Key combo forward Jarred Vanderbilt, one of L.A.’s best perimeter defenders during its 2022-23 run, missed most of the 2024-25 season due to injury. He keeps working his way back from a nagging foot issue, and isn’t sure yet whether he’ll be available for the team’s Oct. 22 opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The 6-foot-8 Kentucky product barely played for Los Angeles in 2023-24. Point guard Gabe Vincent, inked to be basically a Dennis Schroder replacement as a point-of-attack reserve guard and some added backcourt protection alongside Vanderbilt, missed all but 11 contests. Without Vanderbilt or Vincent for much of the season, the Lakers’ perimeter defense really struggled. Across his 29 healthy contests (six starts), Vanderbilt averaged 5.2 points on .518/.296/.667 shooting splits, 4.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.2 swipes a night.
Returning center/combo forward Christian Wood continues to recover from a September arthroscopic left knee surgery, and is currently projected to be back on November 4. Wood’s first Lakers season was hampered both by injury and by fit issues. Head coach Darvin Ham occasionally sat the 6-foot-8 UNLV product due to his defensive weaknesses, especially since his 3-point shot wasn’t landing in the same way it had in years past. Eventually, he played just 50 games, averaging 6.9 points on .466/.307/.702 shooting splits to go along with 5.1 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 0.7 blocks.
Two-way center Christian Koloko – who missed the entire 2023-24 season due to blood clotting issues – signed a two-way deal with L.A. this summer, but has not been medically cleared to suit up for the Lakers to this point. Team vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka said during training camp that the club was hopeful of Koloko being able to play by opening night.
Jordan Goodwin, shooting guard, joined in training camp and did not play in Sunday’s 118-114 loss to the Phoenix Suns in Palm Desert, but is considered day-to-day now and might be available. Goodwin has bounced around a good amount since going undrafted out of Saint Louis. Last season, he appeared in 17 games for the Memphis Grizzlies (12 starts), averaging a promising 10.0 points on .349/.311/.633 shooting splits, 8.0 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 0.5 blocks per contest.
On the Bucks side, two starting wings are considered day-to-day: three-time All-Star small forward Khris Middleton missed Milwaukee’s first preseason matchup on Sunday-a loss to the Detroit Pistons-while shooting guard Gary Trent Jr., signed to an insanely below-market veteran’s minimum contract this year, sat out the team’s Tuesday practice and remains a game-time decision.
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