Playing with LeBron James comes with its own share of positives and pressure. Explaining that in-depth was the four-time NBA champion’s former Los Angeles Lakers teammate, Gabe Vincent.
Gabe Vincent Reflects on Playing Alongside Lakers Superstar LeBron James
Vincent was one of the many stars who had the opportunity to share the floor with one of the greatest basketball players to ever play. While it wasn’t exactly all hunky-dory for the sharpshooter, the experience of playing with James is second to none.
During the latest episode of the “Out the Mud” podcast, Vincent was asked what it was like to play alongside James during his time with the Lakers. The now-Atlanta Hawks guard gave out a detailed response.
“Playing with Bron like… Bron thinks the game so well… his IQ, his brain speed is so fast that at times, you just got to be there and be ready to hoop and do your job…,” Vincent said.
“There are clips still going around about me saying Bron said this about you. I’m like, that’s not what happened. So, being on that side of it and just the media with Bron. I did an interview with somebody about a month ago, and they’re, ‘What’s it like, you know, being on the Lakers and the media?’ I said, ‘What’s it like for y’all having to talk about us?'”
He added, “You have to talk about Bron. Ain’t nothing to talk about, you got to bring it up. So, you’re asking me ‘What is it like? I’m asking you what it’s like. The man’s great. You can’t talk about hoop and not mention him. That’s a testament to his career… That Lakers noise is loud, no question about it.”
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Vincent was traded to the Hawks ahead of the trade deadline for sharpshooter Luke Kennard. In his three seasons with LA, Vincent played 112 games, averaging 5.6 points and 1.4 assists.
The pressure and scrutiny come not just from the fans but also from the media. Donning the iconic franchise’s jersey has always been a daunting challenge for players, and Vincent experienced it firsthand during his time with the Purple and Gold.
However, Vincent did see some success with the Lakers, as his name was etched among the players who won the inaugural NBA Cup, which saw James bag MVP honors.
At just 29 years of age, Vincent, who is averaging 4.4 points and 1.4 assists overall this season, will be keen to apply his learnings with James as he plies his trade with a young and promising Hawks unit.
