Gabe Vincent has struggled to be available and surgery is now being considered for the Lakers guard.
Gabe Vincent has struggled with knee issues all season.
He’s only played in five games this season, but with him making his return on Dec. 20 against the Chicago Bulls, there was optimism that he had turned a corner and would soon be implemented back into the rotation.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, that hope might have to be put on hold as Vincent is considering surgery on his knee.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Gabe Vincent is strongly considering surgery on his left knee with a timetable of 6-to-8 weeks, league sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Vincent rehabbed for almost two months for return, but the swelling is back and procedure is now a real likelihood. pic.twitter.com/pIkbvXnT5G
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 24, 2023
This is awful news for Vincent and the Lakers.
He was brought in to help spread the floor and be a 3-point shooter and not only has he been abysmal from three shooting at an 11.8% clip, but the fact he hasn’t gotten a long enough run to know how well he can fit in is frustrating.
Obviously, a player’s health is number one, and if swelling is back after just one game of play for Vincent, he needs to listen to his body and his doctor and make the best decision for himself.
It doesn’t benefit anyone for him to push if he’s hurt and while 6-8 weeks out would mean he’ll barely play before a potential playoff run, if that’s the best-case scenario for long-term health, then they need to go with that approach.
Still, this is just speculation at this point and considering surgery and taking it are two entirely different things. This isn’t a certainty by any means.
It will be interesting to see what Darvin Ham, other players, and Vincent himself have to say on the topic, but for now, the Lakers will have to approach the upcoming games with Vincent out of mind. He was officially ruled out of the last two games and will likely miss the Christmas Day game, given these reports.
This isn’t the first time the Lakers have seen an injury go from a small issue to a big deal. Kendrick Nunn had a bone bruise in preseason that took him out the entire year and Vincent’s scenario is looking eerily similar with this knee injury that also began in the preseason.
Let’s hope it’s not as severe and we get to see the good version of Vincent for the Lakers at some point this season.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88.