Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Guard Vincent named Most Improved in G League
Miami Heat two-way player Gabe Vincent on Monday was named 2019-20 NBA G League Most Improved Player, in a vote of the league’s coaches and general managers.
Vincent was signed by the Heat in January, replacing Daryl Macon on a two-way contract, after starting the season with the Sacramento Kings’ G League affiliate, the Stockton Kings.
Vincent has appeared in six games for the Heat, valued for his 3-point shooting. He spent most of his time with the Heat with team’s G League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, where he averaged 16.4 points and 1.9 assists, shooting 37% on 3-pointers.
“His game is going to go to another level,” Heat vice president of basketball operations Adam Simon told the Sun Sentinel. “How it’ll translate and how he’ll be able to make it on the Heat, that’s to be determined. But I think everything that we had hoped for, when we two-wayed him during the season, I think we’re very pleased.”
During his stints with the two teams, Vincent averaged 20.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists in the G League this season, with six 30-point games for Stockton, leading the G League with 4.2 3-pointers per game.
Vincent will be a restricted free agent in the offseason, with the Heat retaining the right to match outside bids if a qualifying offer is put into place.
Under revised guidelines for the NBA’s scheduled July 30 restart in the wake of the shutdown for the coronavirus pandemic, Vincent will be eligible for this season’s playoffs.
Two-way players previously had not been eligible for the postseason unless converted to a standard contract.
“Most Improved Player was a goal of mine coming into this season, so it’s nice to have accomplished that goal as well as earn the opportunity to further pursue my dreams with the Miami Heat,” Vincent told the UC-Santa Barbara athletics’ website. “I’m grateful for the accolade but there is a lot more work to be done.”
The Skyforce started the season 10-13 before adding Vincent, then going 9-2 with him in the lineup.
Vincent, 23, went undrafted out of UCSB in 2018, spending last summer with the Nigerian national team at the World Cup.
Vincent is currently participating in the Heat’s individual workouts on the practice court at AmericanAirlines Arena, with the Heat to move into team sessions upon arrival in early July at Disney World, where the NBA restart is planned for the Wide World of Sports campus.