The Los Angeles Lakers signed guard Gabe Vincent in the summer of 2023 to a three-year, $33 million contract in the hopes that he would provide gritty defense and timely 3-point shooting. He was coming off a season with the Miami Heat in which they made a heroic run to the NBA Finals, and during that run, he emerged as a valuable role player.
But he missed almost all of his first season with the Lakers due to a knee ailment, which caused fans to criticize the team for bringing him in. But this season, Vincent was able to appear in 72 games.
While his outside shooting was inconsistent, he did get hot at times. He ended up averaging 6.4 points in 21.2 minutes a game while shooting 35.3% from 3-point range.
After the Lakers were eliminated from the NBA playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves, he reflected on at least being able to stay available throughout the season.
Via Silver Screen and Roll:
“I was able to play a full year,” Vincent said. “I think last year, being injured, playing only in a handful of games, it was great to put together a full season. I had some stretches where I found some good rhythm. I would loved to have more of an impact tonight and this series as well. Season didn’t end the way I wanted to either.”
With Vincent heading into the final year of his contract, his name will surely come up in trade rumors over the next couple of months. But he can still provide value for Los Angeles thanks to his defense and competitiveness, as long as he’s spacing the floor consistently enough.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Gabe Vincent reflects on staying healthy this season
Reporting by Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire / LeBron Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
