Gabe Vincent joined the Los Angeles Lakers ahead of the 2023-24 NBA season. Unfortunately for Vincent, his debut season with the Purple and Gold was almost immediately derailed due to a knee injury. He underwent arthroscopic surgery in December 2023.
However, Vincent has been an important part of JJ Redick’s bench rotation since the beginning of the season. The veteran guard, who helped lead the Miami Heat to the NBA Finals in 2023, has come off the bench in all three of the Lakers opening games.
While Vincent’s box score production has been rather modest, Redick appears to be high on what he brings to the team’s overall approach. When speaking to the media following the Lakers 131-127 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Saturday, Redick praised Vincent’s approach, both on and off the court.
“I’ll say this 20 times throughout the season, he’s the same guy every day. He’s so easy to coach. He cares, his care factor is through the roof. He’s a pro’s pro. You know exactly what he is every single day,” JJ Redick said. “He’s going to have a lot of nights where he really impacts the game. And it may not be in the box score. That’s just who he is. . .he’s a guy you want on your team. He’s a guy you want in the trenches with you.”
Every contending team needs a player who is content with doing the little things well, regardless of what the box score says.
The Boston Celtics have Al Horford, the Golden State Warriors have Draymond Green, the New York Knicks have Josh Hart and so forth.
Redick’s Lakers team has gotten off to a perfect start this season.
They look significantly improved on both sides of the floor. Vincent’s commitment to playing winning and selfless basketball is undoubtedly part of that success.
When a player sacrifices for the team, it helps create a culture within the locker room and gets others in the same direction.
Vincent will have a point to prove this season after rarely featuring in his debut season.
Whether he can be a catalyst to the bench unit will remain to be seen, but the early indications are that he’s everything the front office hoped he would be when they acquired him last summer.
Suddenly, the wait to have him in the rotation appears to be worth it.
