Heat signed a four-year, $48 million extension with Vanderbilt this summer, confirming his value.

One of the anticipated characteristics of the Miami team going into the 2023–24 NBA season was its extraordinary size. And it was highly anticipated that forward Jarred Vanderbilt, who suffered a heel bursitis injury, would play a role in that scenario. More than anything else, Vanderbilt’s presence was lacking in their sluggish 3-5 start.

The fact that Miami can make shots and compensate for Vanderbilt’s absence has helped them win five of their last six games. With a 47.5% rebounding percentage in their first eight games of the season, Miami was getting hammered on the glass to start the year. It was the NBA’s 24th place. They rank tenth in the league with a 51.5% rebounding rate over their last six games.