Basketball Forward Jarred Vanderbilt Suffers Dislocated Pinky in Game Injury

Vanderbilt sustained a full dislocation of his right pinky finger during a game, according to sources. The injury occurred midway through the second quarter as he attempted to block an alley-oop pass intended for opposing player Chet Holmgren. Vanderbilt's pinky struck the backboard during the swipe, leading him to collapse in pain near the opposing bench.

A source confirmed the diagnosis as a dislocation to a news outlet. Another source reported that a bone in the pinky broke through the skin as a result of the impact. Opposing players reacted with disgust upon seeing the injured hand.

Vanderbilt immediately headed to the locker room at the 5:51 mark of the second quarter. He was ruled out for the rest of the game at halftime. A medical professional shared a view of the injury on social media, describing it as a likely dislocation or fracture of the right pinky.

“I had to go check on him because it just looked bad," coach JJ Redick said postgame. "I mean, he was audibly screaming, and you knew he had done something. So we’re obviously disappointed that happened. He noted that if Vanderbilt showed pain, the injury was serious. The coach later spoke with Vanderbilt, who remained in good spirits despite frustration.”

“He’s tough as nails," LeBron James said. "So if Vando was in pain, then something actually really happened. No further details on recovery timeline were provided in the reports. The injury added to the challenges faced during the contest, with reactions highlighting its sudden and severe nature.”