After missing nearly two months with a knee injury, Gabe Vincent looks set to return to the court for the Lakers in Wednesday’s game against the Bulls.
Gabe Vincent’s long-awaited return to the court looks set to finally come on Wednesday. The Lakers listed Vincent as probable with his left knee effusion, the first time he’s been listed as anything other than out.
The only player listed as out for the Lakers is Jalen Hood-Schifino.
Gabe Vincent looks set to make his return on Wednesday as he’s listed as probable by the Lakers pic.twitter.com/heshU2LvW0
— Jacob Rude (@JacobRude) December 20, 2023
On Monday, head coach Darvin Ham noted that Vincent was close to a return and the only thing remaining for him was a “few conditioning boxes” to check. As evidenced by being moved to available, it seems that those boxes were checked.
This will be as healthy as the Lakers have been this season, assuming Vincent, Jarred Vanderbilt, Anthony Davis and LeBron James all play. It will be the first time all year their entire projected rotation will be available.
Does that mean they are fully healthy? Not quite as they still battle through illness and shaking off the rust after recent returns. But this is a big step in the right direction and will, finally, offer the Lakers a look at what they envisioned the team to be during the preseason.
Vincent’s status for this road trip will be interesting. The Lakers have a back-to-back and it feels unlikely that he will play in both games. But that’ll be a decision to make down the road.
For now, make it a bit of a celebration that the team looks to finally be almost entirely healthy. It’s certainly been a very long recovery road for Vincent alone.
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude.