How Gabe Vincent managed to earn the ‘trust’ of his teammates

LOS ANGELES – Over the past few seasons, Gabe Vincent was able to play a slightly leading role with Los Angeles Lakers. Vincent has become a respected voice not only in the Lakers locker room, but around the league in general. Last February, Vincent was elected to one of the vice presidents NBA Players Association.

Gabe Vincent’s leadership role on the Lakers is something that has developed over time, and one of the key reasons why he feels like he’s been able to beat his teammates is simply that he’s healthy. Vincent’s first two seasons with the Lakers were marred by injuries, but he has been a mainstay in the rotation for two years now.

“I think I just found my voice a little bit. I was a little bit more comfortable. I think being a little bit healthier helped me be on the court and build some chemistry and camaraderie with the guys, earn some trust with them,” Vincent said after the Lakers’ practice last Tuesday.

“It’s mostly just finding my voice. I’ve always had something to say or felt a certain way,” Vincent continued. “It’s finding the right way to reach people and express the way I feel or what I see to help the group move forward in the best possible way.”

Vincent is currently out for at least a week with what is reported as lower back pain. But going back to last season, he became a favorite of head coach JJ Redick. His veteran presence and composure have been an important part of the team this season.

He was the key a source of leadership for some of the younger guys, especially Bronie James. And one of the key reasons why Redick trusts him on the court is his ability to play alongside the Lakers’ stars.

“You give the ball space, you run things at pace, you put a little trust in them and some responsibility in them to make the right reads, but you let talent be talent,” Vincent said when it comes to playing with the stars. “I would say don’t overcomplicate things. Have simple actions and let them play out. I think that’s when things become really unpredictable, harder to plan versus anything that’s too structured.”

This season, Vincent has appeared in 14 games, including six starts, logging just over 21 minutes per game. He averaged 4.7 points and 1.4 assists while shooting 36.2 percent from the 3-point line.