Gabe Vincent, the point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers, has only played five games this season due to knee surgery. However, he reportedly remаins determined not to give up on the season just yet.

According to insider Marc Stein, Vincent is nearing a comeback and intends to return to the court this season unless any setbacks occur.

Vincent underwent arthroscopic knee surgery at the end of December to address ongoing issues. He was given a recovery timeline of six to eight weeks. Earlier this month, Shams Charania from The Athletic reported that Vincent was aiming for a return in mid to late March.

During the previous offseason, the Lakers signed Vincent to a three-year, $33 million contract after he spent four years with the Miami Heat and made a nаme for himself during Miami’s impressive playoff run to the 2023 NBA Finals. While he was expected to have a significant role following the departure of veteran point guard Dennis Schroder, his ιnjury disrupted those expectations.

In his limited five games, Vincent averaged 5.4 points and 3.0 assists in 25.4 minutes per game, shooting 37.5 percent from the field and 11.8 percent from three-point range. These numbers were a significant drop from his performance during the 2023 postseason, where he averaged 12.7 points and 3.5 assists while shooting 37.8 percent from beyond the arc.

With a record of 37-32, the Lakers could benefit from Vincent’s return as the playoffs draw near. Currently sitting at the ninth spot in the Western Conference, Los Angeles is likely headed for the play-in tournament. Having Vincent back will provide added depth to the point guard position as the season reaches its crucial stages.

On the other hand, not only Gabe Vicent, Christian Wood and Jarred Vanderbilt will all miss the rest of the 2023-24 NBA season & could return in the playoffs.