Between Kyle Lowry’s injury during the season and his great playoff campaign, Gabe Vincent was of course eager to test his rating during “free agency”. The Nigerian international point guard took full advantage of the experience, eventually signing for the Lakers on a three-year, $33 million deal.
The player explained the reasons for his choice, advancing the “business” part of the negotiations, when he had started the period with the firm intention of staying in Miami, the franchise that trusted him.
“I don’t think it was easy,” he told JJ Redick’s “The Old Man and the Three” podcast. “Miami is the team that gave me an opportunity. I grew up there. We had some good results while I was there, so it wasn’t easy. I don’t think it’s a secret, I was quite open about my desire to come back, my love for the organization and I think it was mutual. But in the end, the business aspect got in the way of it all and there were some spots the Heat couldn’t fill and other teams could hit more of. In the end, it made more sense. The business played a role, but also the situations of each ”.
In this case Miami, which was already well beyond the “luxury tax”, proposed a similar amount (34 million) but smoothed over four years instead of three. In the end, it was therefore the wallet that spoke.
” It was very difficult. The relationships I have with these guys are, to me, forever. The guys I played with, the staff, the front office… I got to know them all very well”, he continued. “So the decision was not easy to make. Coming back was very appealing, that’s for sure. But it had to make sense to me and my family. I couldn’t just make a decision (…) Continuity played a major role, as did taxes. You could believe that they were going to get closer (of what the Lakers offered) and make it work. But for them, it’s a business issue. And it was a bit difficult because they could have done it, but it would have taken a huge toll on the payroll. I understand that from a business perspective, and so do they. Maybe things will work out one day. In the meantime, I’m going to try to get the Lakers a ring. »
Before turning the page for good and returning to his native California, the native of Modesto therefore took his hat off to the franchise to which he owes so much.
“It means a lot to me. Miami will always hold a special place in my heart and I hope they know that. It has been expressed. I hope the city knows that. I gave everything I had and unfortunately we weren’t up to it last season. But the fact of having participated in this adventure and of having fought with these guys, it brought me a lot » he thus concluded.
| Gabe Vincent | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2019-20 | MIA | 9 | 9 | 21.6 | 22.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 2.4 |
| 2020-21 | MIA | 50 | 13 | 37.8 | 30.9 | 87.0 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 4.8 |
| 2021-22 | MIA | 68 | 23 | 41.7 | 36.8 | 81.5 | 0.3 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 3.1 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 8.7 |
| 2022-23 | MIA | 68 | 26 | 40.2 | 33.4 | 87.2 | 0.4 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 0.1 | 9.4 |
| Total | 195 | 21 | 39.9 | 33.9 | 85.2 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 7.7 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
