It’s hardly hyperbolic to state that the loss of Gabe Vincent was one of the most devastating developments of the 2023-24 season. The Los Angeles Lakers made Vincent their marquee signing in 2023, making a clear statement that defense was a priority.

Unfortunately, Vincent appeared in just 11 games during his first season with the Lakers and struggled to build any semblance of momentum heading into the playoffs.

Vincent suffered a knee injury just four games into the 2023-24 season and missed the next 23 outings. He appeared again on December 20, but tweaked the ailment and underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee to resolve the swelling issue just one week later.

It wasn’t until March 31 that Vincent returned to the rotation, when the Lakers had just eight games remaining on the schedule.

The inevitable outcome was Vincent struggling to develop any level of consistency on either end of the floor. He posted his worst statistics since his rookie season, when he appeared in just nine games and spent a vast majority of the campaign in the G League.

Slowly bringing Vincent along ahead of the 2024-25 season has thus become the most logical approach, but recent roster decisions have expedited the necessary timeline for recovery.

Lakers need the real Gabe Vincent as soon as the 2024-25 season begins

Los Angeles is in a state of uncertainty as far as what the point guard position will look like entering the 2024-25 season. D’Angelo Russell and Vincent are the projected top two names on the depth chart, but the Lakers aren’t entirely sure what to expect from either player.

While Vincent is recovering from an injury-plagued season, Russell is being shopped in trade discussions ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.

Rather than signing a cost-efficient player such as Tyus Jones, who joined the Phoenix Suns on a one-year, $3 million deal, the Lakers have stood their ground. In turn, pressure has been placed on a Russell trade to provide a long-term answer at the position.

Until that happens—and the harsh reality is that it may not—Vincent will be one of the most important players on the roster

With trade rumors swirling around Russell, Vincent could be the best chance the Lakers have at finding consistency at the point guard position. There’s reason to believe he can provide it as a high-level defender and proven postseason performer, but there’s also cause for skepticism.

Vincent is well worth the three-year, $33 million deal he signed with the Lakers when he’s healthy, but it’s easier to assume he’ll get back to 100 percent than it is to prove it.

If Vincent stays healthy, he’ll bring the prowess of a player who held opponents to a three-point field goal percentage that was 1.4 percent below the league average. He’s also the same player who dropped four 20-point games while the Miami Heat were making a run to the 2023 NBA Finals.

After a quiet offseason in which the point guard position remained in flux, however, the Lakers are putting pressure on Vincent to get back on track as soon as the season begins.

It’s a massive amount of pressure being placed on Vincent’s shoulders. His success or failure could go a long way toward deciding the outcome of the 2024-25 season.