Gabe Vincent has seemingly taken Bronny James under his wing, and of all the players on the Los Angeles Lakers, he’s the one fans should want mentoring him. If anyone knows how to make the most of being underrated and working from the bottom up, it’s Vincent, who’s had to do that over the course of his career. And he spoke about how James’ past can help him moving forward.

“Having the game taken away from you at a younger age in the way he did, whether it be injury or whatever it was, I think it gave him a different appreciation,” Vincent told Dave McMenamin of ESPN. “I think it forces you to have a different kind of fight. It puts a chip on your shoulder. Everyone needs a chip, but it gives you a different kind of belief in yourself as you’re battling back. You kind of have to climb uphill. And so that builds a lot of resolve.”

He will be a great mentor for James.

How can Gabe Vincent help Bronny James?

McMenamin noted that, since James entered the league, he and Vincent have become good friends.

“Failure, of course, is a relative term for James,” McMenamin wrote. “After going into cardiac arrest two years ago because of a congenital heart defect, requiring surgery that left a 6-inch scar down the center of his chest, wins and losses on a basketball court take on a different scope. Lakers guard Gabe Vincent, with whom James has grown close, sees the experience as a valuable mental edge for his teammate.

Obviously, what James went through at USC goes far beyond basketball. But from a basketball perspective, Vincent is the exact player James should want showing him the ropes at the NBA level.

Though he’s not a superstar, Vincent has carved out a fairly consistent role at the NBA level, despite dealing with some injuries. After going undrafted, he proved himself, earning regular minutes with the Miami Heat.

And as he grew, so did his role. He was a huge part of the Heat’s run to the 2023 NBA Finals, eventually earning himself a contract with the Lakers.

As James attempts to navigate life in the NBA, the best role for him will be as a 3-and-D guard who can handle the ball a little bit. That’s effectively the role Vincent has made for himself, acting as a pest on defense.

While he may not be an elite NBA player, Vincent has played consistent minutes for two different NBA franchises after going undrafted. If there is anyone who can teach James about how to find a role for himself and grind his way to success from the bottom of the NBA, it’s Vincent.

Bronny James knows exactly the type of player he needs to be in order to crack next season’s rotation and silence the critics in Los Angeles. The soon-to-be second-year guard showed some incredible self-awareness leading up to the Los Angeles Lakers’ Summer League debut.

“I can’t lose that defensive drive, that will get me on the floor,” James told Dan Woike. “There’s gonna be guys that can score 15, 20 a game. I’m most likely not gonna be that guy right now. But to get myself on the floor, I have to be a defensive menace, and that’s my main focus.”

This response was given in relation to being asked whether his approach would change after the encouraging displays of offense that Bronny showcased down in the NBA G League. James was open to upping the aggression on that end, but not at the cost of what will earn him playing time in the NBA.

The maturity showcased by the bench guard is incredibly encouraging to hear. The success of the younger James on the Lakers roster becomes easier to root for with each passing day. Bronny’s mindset continues to reassure the team at every step to not give up on his future in Los Angeles.

Summer League development will be key focus of offseason for Bronny

James did not appear in the Lakers’ first game of the California Classic against the Golden State Warriors. It ultimately ended up being an 89-84 loss for Los Angeles to tip-off their Summer League schedule.

The Lakers have confirmed, however, that their young guard will be on the roster. It will only be a matter of time before fans can watch the 2024 second-round pick in action.

Many were critical of the handling of James’ situation by the Lakers. However, there is no doubt that a good portion of that added scrutiny comes from the obvious connection to his father. Having Stephen A. Smith unnecessarily involve himself quickly turned things into a circus for a while too.

All of this has overshadowed a player who handles the media well, puts his head down, and is constantly working on improving his game. That is exactly the kind of approach one wants to see from a second-round pick aspiring to carve out a role for himself with his team.

James will have an opportunity to showcase the work that has been put into his growth as a basketball player during the summer. An impressive display will undoubtedly go a long way to turning the heads of the Lakers coaching staff for next season.