The Los Angeles Lakers had a spot in the starting lineup open with LeBron James set to miss the start of the season, and head coach JJ Redick announced they will surprisingly use Gabe Vincent to fill in. The 6’3 guard’s hot shooting preseason helped him beat out Marcus Smart and Jarred Vanderbilt to be the opening night starter.
The Lakers want shooting around Luka Doncic, and Vincent has delivered. In his first three preseason games, the veteran guard has averaged 17.0 points and made 11 3-pointers. He has disappointed in his first two seasons in Los Angeles, but fans shouldn’t forget he was a starter on the 2023 Miami Heat that reached the NBA Finals.