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Gabe Vincent has pleasant memories of his time with the Miami Heat and recently signed a three-year, $33 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. The former Heat guard played four seasons in Miami, where he developed his skills under the tutelage of Udonis Haslem, one of the league's most illustrious veterans.
Haslem was renowned for his ferocious leadership and love of the game. He retired after 20 seasons with the Heat. Vincent could identify with him since he was an undrafted free agent who made his impact in the NBA through perseverance and hard effort.
During a visit to the Old Man and the Three podcast, Vincent, who was also undrafted, recounted his favorite encounter with Haslem. He claimed it occurred during the 2020 postseason's bubble round when the Heat were playing a challenging foe. "In the bubble, [Erik Spoelstra's] in the huddle, [Udonis Haslem] kind of just takes over… Throws the chair and he's just cussing each one of us out… I think we responded well as a team after that," Vincent said.
Vincent claimed that Haslem frequently used his voice to inspire and test his teammates, thus his outburst was not unusual. He claimed that Haslem had a way of making them appreciate him while simultaneously getting under their skin. "He's always been that guy. He's always been vocal. He's always been honest. He's always been real. He's always been authentic. And I think that's why everybody loves him and everybody respects him," Vincent said.
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Vincent claimed that throughout his time with the Heat, Haslem taught him a lot, and he intends to pass along some of those lessons to his new squad. He claimed that Haslem had taught him how to be a leader, a professional, and a victor. "He's definitely somebody that I look up to and somebody that I appreciate having in my corner," Vincent said.
Haslem finished his career as the Heat's all-time leader in rebounds and games played. He won three championships with the franchise and became one of the most beloved players in Miami history. Vincent, meanwhile, is looking forward to a fresh start with the Lakers, where he will join forces with LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook. He hopes to make an impact as a shooter and defender for the title contenders.
