LA Lakers star Jarred Vanderbilt has found himself being mocked on Twitter for exceptionally non-basketball reasons. The 24-year-old earned more than $4 million via his contract this year but apparently has been buying and wearing clothes only to return them later. A picture recently surfaced on social media accusing the power forward of trying to return an outfit that he wore before game 1 of the ongoing series against the Golden State Warriors. Vanderbilt reportedly wore the outfit in the tunnel before game 1 and was also snapped wearing it post-game.
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Being an athlete in LA and playing for a team as prestigious as the Lakers, Vanderbilt should have really considered the repercussions of such a move. He should have known that there always lies a possibility of backlash when you become famous.
Jarred Vanderbilt criticized for trying to return used clothes
The Twitter post suggests that the boutique store has a no-return policy for used clothing, which is quite common. According to the Lakers Daily, Vanderbilt was accused by the apparent store worker of trying to return the clothing after wearing it twice. Considering the amount of media attention that NBA playoffs receive every year, it is only understandable that the store employee was able to get evidence of the player actually wearing the outfit.
Vanderbilt will earn more than $4.3 million this year, a figure that will rise to more than $4.6 million next season. The 24-year-old can still be forgiven to be unwilling to pay the high prices, $2000 in this case, that boutique clothing often offers!
Things seem to have been made worse by the fact that the employee seemed to be a Golden State Warriors fan himself. His team had lost game 1 despite having the home advantage.
While the Warriors hit back in game 2, Vanderbilt has guarded none other than Stephen Curry who hasn’t been at his best in the two games thus far. With the series delicately poised at 1-1, he will have plenty of other things to think about and will not be concerned by the above.
Jarred Vanderbilt cannot be criticized for his on-court performances
It is the first time in his career that Vanderbilt has come up against Stephen Curry and the Warriors in a playoff setting. Considering his limited experience, the fact that Darvin Ham has already used him against some top offensive players this season is evidence of his defensive abilities. Stephen Curry only got 10 of his 14 attempts to go in game 1 and returned with 20 points from game 2, despite having better efficiency.
Vanderbilt can be expected to continue guarding Curry for the rest of the series. Despite his limited offensive talent, Vanderbilt brings an energy and resilience that the Lakers had desperately required since the start of the season.
https://twitter.com/CookedByLakers/status/1653624520723365889
The 6ft 9 inch forward joined the Lakers from the Utah Jazz in a trade that got them rid of Russell Westbrook. That deal seems to have worked out well for all parties involved.
Westbrook looked like his former self as a Paul George-less Clippers went down to the talented Phoenix Suns. Meanwhile, in Vanderbilt, Malik Beasley, and the returning De’Angelo Russell, the Lakers have acquired 3 stars who have only done well to their title chances for this season.
