Gabe Vincent: "Miami will always have a special place in my heart"
Gabe Vincent looks back on his departure from Miami. The Nigerian guard has decided to leave the Heat for the Lakers
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A new chapter is opening in Gabe Vincent's career. The point guard, who can also play shooting guard, has left Miami after three full seasons. He is heading west, to Los Angeles. The 27-year-old is now a Laker. It is a tough change for him given his background. The Nigeria international spent several seasons in the NBA Gatorade League, the American minor league of basketball created and run by the NBA, before being spotted by Miami. The Heat were the team that gave him a helping hand, a gesture the player himself will never forget. That is what he said on JJ Redick's podcast "The Old Man and the Three".
"Miami is the team that gave me an opportunity. I grew up there. We had 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, about my love for the organisation, and I think it was mutual. But at the end of the day, the business side got in the way of all that, and there were certain things the Heat couldn't fulfil that other teams could offer more of. In the end, it made more sense. Business played a part, but so did everyone's situation ".
A pragmatic choice
An NBA Finals runner-up with Miami last season, Gabe Vincent had the chance to build strong relationships in Florida, which made leaving even harder, even though the choice to go was his own. Miami offered him the same amount (34 million dollars) as the Lakers, but the Heat wanted him to sign for four seasons, whereas Los Angeles put a three-year deal on the table. Even so, the decision was not an obvious one.
"It was very difficult. The relationships I have with those guys are, for me, eternal. The guys I played with, the staff, the front office… I got to know them all very well. So the decision wasn't easy to make. Coming back was very appealing, for sure. But it had to make sense for me and my family. I couldn't just make a decision (…) Continuity played a major role, and so did taxes. You could believe they were going to get closer (to what the Lakers were offering) and make it work. But for them, it's a business matter. And it was a bit difficult because they could have done it, but it would have weighed heavily on the payroll. I understand that from a business point of view, and so do they. Maybe things will work out one day. In the meantime, I'm going to try to bring a ring to the Lakers," Gabe Vincent added.
The guard wrapped up. "It means a lot to me. Miami will always have a special place in my heart and I hope they know that. It has been expressed. I hope the city knows it. I gave everything I had and unfortunately we weren't good enough last season. But being part of that journey and having battled with those guys, it gave me a lot." At his new franchise, Gabe Vincent will play alongside LeBron James, among others.