How Gabe Vincent fits next to LeBron James on the Lakers
Gabe Vincent will be a defensive force for the Lakers
Vincent has been in the league since 2019, signing with the Miami Heat as an undrafted free agent and has earned his role as a starting guard across the league.
Defensively, Vincent is the prototypical hustling perimeter defending guard. Vincent’s athletic defense is reminiscent of the unforgettable 2015 Finals effort of Matthew Dellavedova against NBA superstar Stephen Curry.
When guarded by Vincent, opponents shot 45 percent from the field and 35.2 percent from deep, per NBA’s stat tracking. In the regular season, Gabe Vincent averaged one steal per game and 2.5 deflections per game. With his effort, Vincent ranked in the 61st percentile for combo guards with a 1.6 percent steal percentage, per Cleaning the Glass (subscription required).
Whether Vincent is diving for loose balls or running back to the three-point line to contest a forgotten shooter, his active effort has managed to prevent numerous opponents from swinging the momentum toward themselves.
Sifting through Gabe Vincent film and already seeing the various ways his defense helps the Lakers in specific matchups
— LAbound (@LAbound2) July 1, 2023
Miami doubled Jokic one pass away from the perimeter (EXACTLY what the Lakers did)
Look how much quicker Vincent bumps over to take away the C+S 3 pic.twitter.com/MmwT4tXhMN
The fearless guard will not be the defensive anchor that takes on the hardest assignment each night out. Defending with Anthony Davis and Jarred Vanderbilt on the court, though, Vincent’s energy and commitment only amplify the intensity that Los Angeles’ frontcourt duo brings.
Vincent’s value to Los Angeles goes beyond his gritty defense, though. Lakers fans will be overjoyed with how Vincent can fit into Darvin Ham’s offensive schemes.