Sure enough, LeBron James is pumped up about Jarred Vanderbilt signing a four-year, $48 million deal extension with the Los Angeles Lakers.

James announced the signing of the Vanderbilt player on the Lakers’ formal announcement, which he posted on his Instagram story. The superstar forward didn’t sаy a word, but he made his thoughts about the deal quite obvious by posting multiple “Raising Hands” emojis.

After being acquired from the Utah Jazz and the Minnesota Timberwolves in a midseason trade, Jarred Vanderbilt played a significant role in the Lakers’ 2022–23 revival. Although he had a rough postseason, his contributions were crucial in getting the team over the regular season and into the playoffs after such a dismal start.

Averaging 7.2 points on 52.9 percent shooting, 6.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.2 steals per game in 26 appearances with the Lakers in 2022-23, the 24-year-old forward had a solid season. He averaged 4.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 0.7 steals in reduced playing time throughout the postseason. Nonetheless, the Purple and Gold still need him on the court, as he is perhaps their second-best defender behind Anthony Davis.

The Lakers will rely heavily on Vanderbilt once again in 2023-24 as they try to advance to and win the Western Conference Finals. In the conference finals last year, they fell to the Denver Nuggets. LeBron James and company have their work cut out for them, so they’ll need supporting guys like Vanderbilt to stand up.