Los Angeles Lakers‘ top free agent signing Gabe Vincent was a limited participant during Friday’s practice ahead of their March 16 home game against the Golden State Warriors.
Vincent, who’s been out since December last year, did non-contact drills.
According to Lakers coach Darvin Ham, Vincent and their other injured players — Jarred Vanderbilt, Christian Wood and Cam Reddish — remain “status quo” which means they are still out.
“[An official update from the Lakers] should come out soon though,” Ham told reporters after Friday’s practice, per Clutchpoints’ Michael Corvo.
Vincent’s return before the postseason is hoped for.
March 5 on FanDuel TV’s “Run It Back,” Shams Charania of The Athletic said that “barring any setbacks, it’s still mid to late March that he can get back in the lineup.”
On March 15, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin stated on X, formerly Twitter, following the Lakers’ practice on Friday, saying that “getting his conditioning back will be the final step in Vincent’s return process.”
Gabe Vincent returning to the court at the conclusion of Friday’s practise in uniform
When Vincent signed a $33 million, three-year contract in the offseason as a free agency, he was expected to face D’Angelo Russell for the starting point guard position for the Lakers. However, the 27-year-old guard’s average of 5.0 points, 3.4 assists, and 1.2 steals has only been possible in five games thus far due to injury.
On December 27, of last year, Vincent had a successful arthroscopic knee surgery.
After his outstanding play for the Miami Heat, who made it to the NBA Finals the previous season, the Lakers made him a target in the offseason. During the previous year’s playoffs, Vincent averaged 12.7 points, 3.5 assists, and 38% shooting from three-point range for the Heat.
Dennis Schröder Calls D’Angelo Russell ‘Immature’
Dennis Schröder did not mince words as he slammed Russell’s comments, insinuating that Lakers coach Darvin Ham favored the longtime veteran during last year’s Western Conference Finals.
“I don’t understand it,” Schröder told New York Post’s Brian Lewis. “But at the end of the day, it just shows off immaturity. You’re not really mature if you’re just keeping somebody’s name in his mouth and just running it. I don’t understand.”
Russell blamed Schröder’s presence as a hindrance to Ham cultivating a relationship with Russell, who struggled in the first three games of the Western Conference Finals which led to his benching.
In a feature article published on March 13, Russell stated, “[Schröder’s] relationship with Darvin is the reason I couldn’t have a relationship with Darvin.”
“Bro, this is what we should do,” I could have said to the coach when I was having trouble. I mean, I can assist you. Rather, there was no conversation. I just gave it my best.
After Schröder joined the Toronto Raptors in the offseason, Russell, who had earlier shown reluctance to play again this season, decided to sign a 1+1 contract. After acquiring Immanuel Quickley at the trade deadline, the Raptors sent Schröder to the Brooklyn Nets.
3-time NBA Champion Predicts Lakers-Nuggets WCF Rematch
Stacey King, the current announcer for the Chicago Bulls and three-time NBA champion, made a daring prediction: the ninth-place Lakers will once more face the reigning champion Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals.
During the Thursday, March 14 Bulls vs. Los Angeles Clippers game, King teased his broadcast colleague, “Hey, this is going to be a surprise for you.” “Denver will play the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals.”
King thinks that when the lights are bright, the Lakers perform at their best.
