Videos

New Lakers guard Gabe Vincent names his top 5 players of all time

Published by
Peter Dewey

Los Angeles Lakers guard Gabe Vincent revealed his top five players of all time in an interview with Lakers Daily.

Vincent had multiple Lakers on his all-time list, choosing Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Russell as his five greatest players ever.

The newly acquired Laker had some worries about listing Russell – a legendary Boston Celtics player – amongst his top five players since Boston is a rival with Los Angeles.

“You know what’s funny?” Vincent asked. “One of the names that just popped into my head was Bill Russell. May he rest in peace. But I was a little nervous to throw it out there since he’s a Celtic. I was a little nervous to throw it out there.”

Russell was an 11-time NBA champion and Hall of Famer during his amazing playing career. He’s arguably the greatest winner in all of professional sports because of his 11 titles.

It’s cool to see Vincent mention Lakers greats such as Bryant (a five-time NBA champion), Abdul-Jabbar (the second-leading scorer in NBA history) and James, who will be teammates with Vincent in the 2023-24 season.

All three of those Lakers players have played key roles in bringing titles to the franchise.

James could add to his legacy – and to Vincent’s resume – if the two players can help lead the Lakers to an NBA title in the 2023-24 season.

Vincent, who went undrafted in his journey to the NBA, had been a key piece for the Miami Heat the last few seasons before signing with the Lakers in free agency this offseason.

A strong perimeter defender, Vincent became a better offensive player over the years with Miami. During the 2022-23 season, he averaged 9.4 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game while shooting 40.2 percent from the field and 33.4 percent from beyond the arc.

He’s a great fit for the Lakers, especially since the team lost guard Dennis Schroder in free agency.

Every fan and player seems to have a different take on the greatest players in NBA history, but Vincent’s list is hard to argue with.

Some people may have Tim Duncan or Larry Bird in the top-five conversation, but Lakers fans will certainly appreciate the newly signed guard showing love to the franchise with his list.

Peter Dewey

Peter is a graduate of Quinnipiac University where he covered the MAAC and college basketball for three years. He has worked for NBC Sports, the Connecticut Sun and the Meriden Record-Journal covering basketball and other major sports. Follow him on Twitter @peterdewey2.

Published by
Peter Dewey

Recent Posts

Ex-NFL star says Bronny James should be ‘begging’ Lakers to let him travel with G League team

Los Angeles Lakers rookie Bronny James arguably isn't being treated like just any fringe NBA…

November 17, 2024

Skip Bayless and Stephen Jackson unite in calling Shannon Sharpe’s praise of LeBron ‘scary’

Former NFL tight end Shannon Sharpe has long been a strong defender and supporter of…

November 16, 2024

Stephen Curry removes Kobe Bryant, adds LeBron James to his all-time starting 5

Last year, Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry picked his all-time starting five, and it…

November 15, 2024

Shaq wants to be included in the GOAT debate: ‘I know when it comes to the most dominant, there is no conversation’

Los Angeles Lakers legend Shaquille O'Neal is often regarded as one of the greatest players…

November 15, 2024

Ja Morant pointed gun gesture at Anthony Davis during Lakers-Grizzlies game

The Los Angeles Lakers improved to 7-4 on the season after they defeated the Memphis…

November 14, 2024

Shams Charania drops major prediction on LeBron James’ remaining timeline in NBA

It's no secret that Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is in the twilight of…

November 14, 2024