Jarred Vanderbilt is a young player without much of a jump shot at this point who can do nearly everything else. Today at the Denver Nuggets Media Day, fellow 2018 draftee Michael Porter Jr. said he thought Vanderbilt was a top-10 talent in the draft if healthy, and Vanderbilt is itching to get the chance to prove that sentiment correct.
Vanderbilt said that in college he picked rebounding as a way to stand out with a limited role, but that he feels like he can do more and show more in the NBA. He brought up Lamar Odom and Ben Simmons as diverse-skill comparisons, and talked about his relationship with Michael Porter Jr. over the years as they pushed each other throughout their prep and camp circuit careers. He brought up the Kentucky family (of which Jamal Murray is a part) and how he’s doubling down on his versatility, starting with his defensive skills and continuing through his playmaking skills.
Take a listen!
And here’s a second interview, talking about a few different topics like his injury status (he is still not playing any 5-on-5 although he is out of the boot), Isaiah Thomas, and arguing about Wilt Chamberlain’s greatness:
