Jarred Vanderbilt spent three of his NBA seasons in a Timberwolves uniform, including two alongside star guard Anthony Edwards. Nowadays, though, the former teammates haven’t been so friendly to each other.
Vanderbilt is now in his third season with the Lakers. He’s struggled with injuries over his stint in Los Angeles — and earlier in the 2024-25 season, Edwards had something to say about those injury issues.
On Thursday, the intensity between Vanderbilt and Edwards was taken a step further when the two engaged in a brief scuffle during a matchup in L.A.
Here’s what to know about the beef between Vanderbilt and Edwards.
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Anthony Edwards-Jarred Vanderbilt beef, explained
Vanderbilt has had a successful NBA career thus far as a do-it-all defensive weapon in the frontcourt, but one area he has severely lacked in recently is availability.
After being traded to the Lakers in February 2023, Vanderbilt later signed an extension with Los Angeles. However, he’s only been able to play a total of 41 games between the entire 2023-24 season and the 2024-25 season so far.
A foot injury in February 2024 was the start of Vanderbilt’s health issues, and he later underwent surgery on both of his feet. During his rehab, Vanderbilt then experienced fluid in his left knee in December. These health issues kept the forward out of action until Jan. 25 when he made his 2024-25 season debut against the Warriors.
Vanderbilt’s injuries are one of the roots of his beef with Edwards — the star guard called Vanderbilt out on his lack of availability in October. In each squad’s season-opener, Edwards was seen yelling to the Lakers’ bench that Vanderbilt has “been hurt for two years.”
“You’ve been hurt for 2 years n***a.”
– Anthony Edwards to Jarred Vanderbilt
(h/t @LeagueAlerts )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 23, 2024
Anthony Edwards-Jarred Vanderbilt fight
Just a few months later, there was no love lost between Vanderbilt and Edwards. With the Lakers forward healthy and on the court again, the two players exchanged shoves on Thursday night before officials and Luka Doncic had to separate them.
VANDO AND ANT EXCHANGE SHOVES 😳🍿 pic.twitter.com/GeOCZAGc27
— Lakers All Day Everyday (@LADEig) February 28, 2025
Here’s another look at the interaction, as the two were handed offsetting technical fouls:
Here’s the little altercation at the end of the first quarter between Jarred Vanderbilt and Anthony Edwards, who both received technical fouls.
Edwards is now one tech away from a one-game suspension. pic.twitter.com/StpU1K3F34
— Charlie Walton (@CharlieWaltonMN) February 28, 2025
Edwards’ frustration might have stemmed from the fact the Lakers jumped out to a big lead vs. Minnesota, partially because of Vanderbilt’s smothering defense on a few possessions against Edwards.
