Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves are the three cornerstones of this Los Angeles Lakers outfit but championship teams are built on role players.
Granted, Austin Reaves was also an undrafted player before entering the league but nobody is doubting his credentials now.
The same can’t be said for his teammate in Los Angeles who was almost out of the league not long ago but is now a favourite for the LA Lakers.
In the wake of the team’s statement win over the Memphis Grizzlies, James Worthy and Derek Fisher reserved special praise for him.
A major win for JJ Redick’s coaching acumen is how successful he’s been in making every player feel like a crucial part of the team.
As a renowned role player himself, he understands the need for setting a culture of accountability that thrives only if it seeps down to the last man in rotation.
Redick recently praised Hachimura and Vanderbilt and now, that praise train has been extended to Gabe Vincent by Worthy and Fisher.
Speaking on Spectrum SportsNet, Worthy, and Fisher said Vincent was fighting for an opportunity just to play in the league not long ago but is now a crucial spark plug off the bench.
Worthy said: “We’ve always known that Gabe was something. When he came here from Miami unfortunately he has gone through a couple of coaches, and injuries. Quality minutes, and a healthy body, he gave us a big lift off the bench.
Fisher said: “He’s seen it all, the highs and lows of being in this league, he had to fight just for an opportunity to play in the league, so he’s not going to be up and down. His energy and how he approaches things when things aren’t going so well.
“To me, Gabe’s play is just a continuation of being healthy, getting healthier coming off getting injured his first year in LA. To me you are seeing why the team prioritized him in free agency.
Superstars always decide the floor of the team but the contribution from role players when the lights shine brightest is what decides the ceiling.
In that sense, Gabe Vincent’s success story is a big culture win for the LA Lakers and the atmosphere JJ Redick has cultivated around the team.
Vincent scored 15 points in the win vs the Grizzlies and the team needed every single of those points, especially his 4/6 shooting from three.
For the season, Vincent’s averages don’t jump out of the paper but he does the small things well and responds positively when his numbers is called upon.
All of a sudden, that three-year, $33 million deal doesn’t look so bad which, at one point, seemed like an albatross around the team’s neck.
Both Vincent and Redick deserve credit for the turnaround.
