Why a 29-Year-Old Lakers Point Guard Needs to Step Up in ‘King James’ Absence
The Los Angeles Lakers are kicking off their 78th season tonight against the Golden State Warriors. The team is coming into the 2025-26 NBA season with many expectations, while hoping to win their 18th championship, tying the Boston Celtics for the most all-time. For tonight’s game, star player Luka Dončić will begin his first full season with the Lakers after being traded for Anthony Davis last season. With LeBron James set to miss three to four weeks at the start of his 23rd season due to sciatica on his right side, the Lakers will need a point guard to step up during his absence.
Lakers head coach J.J. Redick is expected to insert Gabe Vincent to replace James in his absence to begin the NBA season. Vincent played great during the preseason, averaging 16.3 points per game, while shooting 55.6 percent from three in less than seven attempts per game. He is a great shooter who can move without the ball, handle in high-pressure situations, and stay in front of his man when he has the ball. In his third season with the Lakers, Vincent recognizes the need to step up during LeBron's absence. He has demonstrated his potential as a key player to watch when the Lakers’ star players are absent, as he has shown during the preseason.
Last year, he had a season high of 24 points, shooting six of nine from three-point range in a 111-108 loss against the Brooklyn Nets in March. Going into his seventh NBA season, the 2018 undrafted player out of UC Santa Barbara has a lot to ask for from Lakers’ fans to begin the season. The Lakers are expected to start Vincent, Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and Deandre Ayton tonight against the Warriors. As we are under 10 hours away from watching Lakers’ basketball, it will be exciting to watch the team go for their 18th championship, and even without LeBron, with a strong bench unit, the purple and gold are in good hands, and can contend for a legendary playoff run in the 2025-26 NBA season.
