Gabe Vincent returned to action for the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night after missing nine consecutive games due to a back injury. In his first game back against the San Antonio Spurs, Vincent contributed six points, two rebounds, and two assists. Despite the Lakers’ loss, Vincent expressed satisfaction with his performance and physical condition.
“It felt good to get out there and get some run. I did what I could in workouts, trying to play against the managers, some of the players when I could to prep myself for the game. But it felt good to get back out there and compete, play with the guys. Went through my minutes, handled em well, body feels good so far so I’ll take it […] I’m confident I’ll be back. But obviously we’ll see how the body feels up to the flight, but I think it’ll do well,” Vincent said after the game.
Vincent explained that this was his first experience with a back injury and acknowledged frustration over recurring injuries this season. He previously missed 11 games because of an ankle issue.
“No. I’ve never really dealt with anything with the back before so that was a new injury for me. Thankfully it didn’t keep me out too long. It felt like forever, but I think it was only about three weeks. Grateful to be back. Tough first start of the year with the ankle, now the back, but hopefully we’re good moving forward,” he added.
The Lakers have faced challenges due to injuries among key players this season. With Austin Reaves currently sidelined as well, Vincent’s return is seen as timely for his skills in both offense and defense.
LeBron James also missed Wednesday’s contest against San Antonio as part of managing his workload during back-to-back games at age 41; he indicated that his participation in future similar situations will be determined based on ongoing health assessments.