Los Angeles Lakers head coach Darvin Ham has already announced that D’Angelo Russell will start over Gabe Vincent at point guard in 2023-24. In an interview with NBA reporter Mark Medina of Sportskeeda, Vincent talked about Ham’s decision.
“I just go in there and be me,” Vincent said. “That’s something for D Ham to worry about. I’m not the coach. I don’t set lineups. I just go out there and do my job. I’ll do whatever I can to help this (Lakers) team win games and help this organization win games. As I’ve seen in the past, every night doesn’t always look the same. With that big picture in mind with trying to help us win, I’ll wear whatever hat is needed.”
Vincent averaged 9.4 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists for the Miami Heat during the 2022-23 regular season. He signed with the Lakers this offseason in free agency.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Gabe Vincent, D’Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
The 27-year-old Vincent averaged 12.7 points and 3.5 assists in the 2023 playoffs against the Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets. The Heat lost to the Nuggets in the NBA Finals in five games.
The Lakers acquired Russell from the Minnesota Timberwolves at the 2023 February trade deadline. The Ohio State product played well in his 17 games with Los Angeles, averaging 17.4 points and 6.1 assists while shooting 41.4% from 3.
D’Lo also put up strong numbers in the first two rounds of the 2023 playoffs versus the Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors for the Lakers. The Louisville native averaged 15.7 points and 5.0 assists and scored 31 points in Game 6 against the Grizzlies.
However, Russell was so poor against the Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals that many people around the NBA believed the Lakers shouldn’t have re-signed him. The lefty averaged 6.3 points and 3.5 assists while shooting 32.3% from the floor and 13.3% from deep as the Nuggets swept the Lakers.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Gabe Vincent, D’Angelo Russell, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
Despite Russell’s struggles versus the Nuggets, the Lakers brought him back. For the first time in the LeBron James–Anthony Davis era, which started in 2019-20, Los Angeles prioritized continuity and chemistry over chasing flashier upgrades this offseason.
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