2023 NBA Finals Starter Set For Return To Lakers

Los Angeles Lakers fans can be excused if they forget that Gabe Vincent is even on their roster. After playing in the first four games of the season, he has appeared in just one since December 20th.

It seems like Lakers fans may get reacquainted with the 27-year-old Vincent, possibly as soon as Sunday.  The guard is now listed as questionable for Sunday’s tilt against the Brooklyn Nets.

2023 NBA Finals Starter Set For Return to Lakers

Why Has Vincent Been Out For So Long?

Vincent has been experiencing knee swelling for much of the season. After missing 23 straight games from November 1 until December 18, he made a return to the court on December 20. Vincent played 14 minutes and then was shut down again. He underwent arthroscopic knee surgery on December 27.

In his five games this season, Vincent played 25.4 minutes per contest. The five-year veteran has averaged 5.4 points, 3.0 assists, and 1.2 steals in his brief time on the court in 2023-24.

Vincent Was Starting PG For Miami’s Surprising Finals Run

Last season, the Miami Heat reached the NBA Finals as an eight seed. They became just the second eight seed to make the finals after the 1998-99 New York Knicks.

Undrafted in 2018, Vincent usurped Kyle Lowry in Miami’s starting lineup. Vincent ended up starting all 22 of his postseason appearances last season. The Heat fell just short of the ultimate prize losing to the Denver Nuggets in five games.

Vincent played 30.5 minutes per outing during that playoff run. He posted averages during the 2023 postseason of 12.7 points and 3.5 assists. Vincent connected on 37.8% of his 135 three-point attempts in the playoffs.

After spending his first four seasons with the Heat, Vincent was able to parlay his career-best season into a deal with the Lakers in the 2023 offseason. Vincent signed a three-year, $33 million contract to join Los Angeles. He will again become a free agent in 2026.

Can the Lakers Avoid the Play-In Tournament?

With just eight regular season games remaining, the Lakers own a 41-33 record. In the crowded Western Conference, that places them just ninth in the conference standings.

It doesn’t seem likely that the Lakers will be able to move out of Play-In Tournament territory. The top-six seeds get guaranteed postseason berths, while seeds 7-10 battle it out in the tournament. Los Angeles is 3.5 games behind the current sixth seed, the Dallas Mavericks.

Moving into seventh or eighth can at least allow the Lakers to avoid the ‘lose and you’re out’ game between seeds 9 and 10. They currently are 1.5 games behind the eighth-seeded Sacramento Kings and two games behind the seventh-seeded Phoenix Suns.