As he reflected on coping with a left knee injury that sidelined him for all but 11 games last season, Los Angeles Lakers guard Gabe Vincent saw one of the key people who offered plenty of support.
Before the Lakers’ preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, LeBron James politely interrupted Vincent’s interview to shake his hand and wish him well.
Though the Lakers’ playoff ceiling mostly hinges on a healthy and effective James and Anthony Davis, Vincent’s availability also could prove critical to the team’s roster depth.
“He’s like one of those guys where you’re like, ‘Man, I’d love to have 10 Gabe Vincent’s,’” Lakers coach JJ Redick said. “He’s easy to coach. You know what he’s gonna be day-to-day.”
What Vincent is going to be basically defines what Redick will prioritize when finalizing his bench rotation. After already naming James, Davis, D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura as definitive starters, Redick has not determined the rest of his nine-man rotation.
Assume Vincent will be the lead reserve considering Redick will value bench players who can defend well, play team ball and minimize mistakes. Expect Vincent to offer those qualities with either Russell or Reaves on the floor.
“With Gabe, he’s someone that plays the game the right way and does all the little things that nobody talks about,” Reaves said. “You can always trust him to be the low-man, the X rotation, diving on the floor for loose balls. He’s someone you know you can fully trust to do everything out there. So you just feel real comfortable with him on the court at any time.”
Gabe Vincent interview (Exclusive)
Vincent spoke to Sportskeeda about how he plans to approach that role, how he managed his injury and his appreciation for Redick, James and Anthony Davis.
The following one-on-one conversation has been edited and condensed.
What did your rehab entail this summer?
Gabe Vincent: “Just strengthening the muscles around the joints. It wasn’t like I was fresh off of surgery or on crutches or anything. It was more so having the time. Since I had the time, I was able to backtrack it and start from square one and build a good foundation for the year. I felt 100% a month after the end of the season.”
What were the turning points in your recovery?
Gabe Vincent: “It was just time. Any time you have an operation, the surgeon is going to say one thing. But the body says another. The timetable might say that you’re good in six weeks, per se. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re high level in six weeks. I was just trying to make sure that my body was prepared for the stretch ahead.”
How did you internalize the injury last season?
Gabe Vincent: “There was some frustration with not being able to compete. As a competitor, I wanted to help my team win. Every day they’re going to battle, and I want to suit up with them.”
You’ve said you still tried to make an impact with the group. In what ways?
Gabe Vincent: “I was just trying to figure out the best way I could help the group. I obviously wasn’t on the court. So I was trying to bring good energy or I was trying to uplift somebody or communicate from the bench. It was communication, really.”
LeBron and the rest of the group seemed to show a lot of grace with sharing how much they need you, but fully understanding your situation. How did that land with you?
Gabe Vincent: “They all understand that impact. Everyone has dealt with injuries at some point in their career now. LeBron and AD specifically have had long successful careers in the league. They’ve seen everything under the sun. So there was no doubt in their mind. I never felt judged or anything like that. It was more so, ‘Just take care of your body. And when you’re ready, we’re looking forward to it.’”
Sports can always be unpredictable with injuries. But before your injury last season, you played in 68 games for each of the past two seasons in Miami. What do you think helped your odds to stay healthy then?
Gabe Vincent: “You just do what you can to prepare. That’s it. You do what you can. You adjust. You pivot. You try to make it work. That’s the athlete in us. I play through a lot of stuff. So if I’m not playing, it’s for good reason. Whether it’s we’re trying to make sure we watch the load that we’re doing or I have something going on, if I can play, I’m going to play, respectfully. So if I’m not playing, it’s because something is going on.”
What’s it been like to have JJ as head coach after playing against him and also joining him on his podcast?
Gabe Vincent: “It’s been great to get more facetime with him and talk about the game more. He has a great and brilliant mind. I’ve gotten to know him more as a person now. It’s great to be around him.”
What have you learned more about him?
Gabe Vincent: “Everyone hears how his regimen was when he played and how detailed he was. You see those elements in his approach to the game boil over to coaching and how he prepares. It’s been great to see him working. I’m excited to see him continue to grow this year.”
When you were on his podcast, you all talked about the importance of being a part of winning plays. How do you provide these things with this current group?
Gabe Vincent: “It’s the same way I always do. I’m just trying to win games. I’ll let everyone else worry about the other stuff. I’ll be aggressive, whether it’s to make a play for myself or a teammate. Or I’ll get a stop. I want to make sure our team has more points in the end than the other team.”
JJ said he’ll evaluate his bench rotation depending on which guys get after it defensively and know how to minimize mistakes within a structured system. What do you think contributes to you excelling in those areas?
Gabe Vincent: “That is something that I struggled with early being a young player. I think there’s always an adjustment in the league with the speed and pace. Especially being a young point guard, that was an adjustment for me. I wanted to make sure I could get everyone organized and situated. So it’s something that I grew on a few years ago and I have been building on it throughout my career. So I think those all are qualities that I can provide.”
When do you feel like you turned a corner with that?
Gabe Vincent: “I feel like when I first started playing the game and starting at point guard, I wasn’t the biggest guy on the court. When I got to high school, I transitioned into more of a combo guard in college. But it wasn’t until the bubble in Miami [in 2020] when I started to handle it more in practice. Then they were like, ‘Oh, you can run the 1.’ It’s like, ‘Shocker!’ You know what I mean? But it changes. It’s based on need, really. If a team has a void, I just try to fill it and get on the court.”
Knowing that D’Angelo and Austin have some similarities and differences, how do you think you can complement them whenever you’re on the court together?
Gabe Vincent: “I’ve played alongside a lot of different guards. Goran Dragic is a scoring attack handler. Kyle Lowry is more of a pass-first, veteran guard. Tyler Herro is young and trying to attack the rim. He’s matured a lot now as his game has grown.
“But I feel like I’ve been alongside different archetypes of guards. I can play alongside them, no problem. I have no problem setting them up or being on the receiving end and spacing the floor. I try to make the right play over and over. And I try to help the team win. I try to keep it that simple.”
I saw in your group interview that you often talk strategy. What are the conversations like?
Gabe Vincent: “We always do. Whether something happens in another game that we’re watching or we say, ‘Did you see this action or this little wrinkle?’ We try to get creative and dissect the game when we can.”
Though you had your injury last season, what things did you appreciate more as LeBron as a teammate after previously going up against him?
Gabe Vincent: “It’s the consistency. His consistency to the game is remarkable. But it’s also his day-to-day and preparation and his approach to the game and the respect that he shows the game.”
What makes AD unique defensively compared to the other DPOY candidates?
Gabe Vincent: “I think his size, his length and the way he can cover ground. He’s not just limited to being in the paint. He’s not just a drop big. He can step out. He might do it all the time. But he shows moments of it. That’s smothering defense from a seven-footer. He’s pretty dynamic. He’s got a knack for it with great instincts for the ball to block shots and get rebounds. We value everything that he does.”
