Training camp for the 2023-24 NBA season is slowly but surely approaching, and while there is plenty of time before it begins, it’s time for players to start ramping up their training and preparation.
That’s especially true for the Los Angeles Lakers, who are hoping to win their 18th world championship next summer. They magically remade what was a broken roster in January and February, and now they’re aiming for the sky rather than just trying to tread water.
A few weeks ago, Los Angeles signed guard Gabe Vincent to strengthen its backcourt. He could end up playing a big role in whatever success it has this coming season as long as he works on these three goals.
Become an accurate 3-point shooter
There have been times when Vincent has hurt opposing teams with his perimeter shooting. When the Miami Heat, his former team, unexpectedly reached the NBA Finals this past season, he had a number of hot shooting games in the playoffs.
But overall, the University of California, Santa Barbara product has been a mediocre outside shooter. He made just 33.4 percent of his 3-point attempts during the regular season, and if he doesn’t improve that mark, he could find it hard to get lots of playing time with the Lakers.
Facilitate better
There are whispers that Vincent could beat out D’Angelo Russell for the starting point guard spot. If he does, he will need to distribute the ball better.
He averaged just 2.5 assists a game this past regular season, and although that number ticked up to 3.5 assists per contest in the playoffs, he’ll want to do a little better than that in order to take pressure off LeBron James.
Always be available
A number of the Lakers’ best players seem to be injury-prone. While Vincent isn’t as injury-prone as, say, Anthony Davis, he hasn’t played in as many as 70 games in a season ever since entering the NBA for the 2019-20 campaign.
For the Lakers to win it all this coming season, they cannot afford to have multiple key players out for more than a few games at a time.
