With LeBron sidelined against the Kings due to sciatica, the Lakers started Gabe Vincent next to Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and Deandre Ayton. The small guard had a chance to prove himself, and he didn’t disappoint.
Vincent was lights out during the game, hitting five shots (with four threes) for 14 points, and continued his hot streak, which he has been on since the win against Dallas earlier in the week, where he had 18 points in the first four minutes.
He said after the game, “I just bring what I’ve been doing since I’ve been here. Just defending, try to defend at a high level. Playmake when I have opportunities, space the floor while Luka and [Austin Reaves] are creating themselves.”
JJ Redick made it clear that, going into the season, the current starting lineup wasn’t set in stone. “I don’t know anything about who I’m going to be starting the rest of the season because, again, there’s injuries and there’s things that happen throughout a year,” he told reporters.
Still, Vincent’s production has given Doncic and the Lakers unexpected relief in LeBron‘s absence, particularly in ball-handling and floor spacing. His explosive performance is an essential reminder that the flexibility and adaptation for the Lakers is almost as important as the talent on the floor.
