Gabe Vincent details the surprising call-up journey and the rigorous "Heat Culture" initiation that immediately set NBA standards.
The Miami Heat had several success stories come through the organization, including Gabe Vincent. Before signing a three-year, $30 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, the 29-year-old guard was an undrafted prospect looking for a role in the league after four collegiate seasons with the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos.
Vincent signed a camp invite with the Sacramento Kings, then was sent to the G-League. After playing two seasons with the Stockton Kings, he signed a two-way contract with the Heat organization. In a recent episode of the “Out The Mud Podcast,” hosted by former NBA players Tony Allen and Zach Randolph, Vincent shared behind-the-scenes of the call-up process.
“I was just like, ‘this is crazy,’” he said. “It’s between Miami and Cleveland. At that time, Cleveland was having a bunch of movement. I’m calling my agent back like, ‘We got to go to Miami. Let's do it.’ I get my ticket, I’m excited, I’m going to the airport. Ticket say, ‘Sioux Falls, South Dakota.’ I said, ‘That ain’t Miami. Maybe I’m just in layover.’ I had never lived in the snow, so that was a culture shock right there. Even over there, they kept it all about hoop.”
All over the league, the term “Heat Culture” is well known. After signing with the organization, Vincent shared his first taste of what it meant to be part of it.
“When I first got there, they was telling me, ‘We’re happy to have you,’” Vincent added. “I just played them two nights prior in the G-League and had a good game, whatever. They were like, ‘You been hooping.’ I’m like, ‘Hooping? I’m leading the [G-League] in threes. I’m top five in scoring. What do you mean, I’m just hooping? I’m killing y’all.’ That’s kind of how I was feeling. They’re like, ‘Well, you’re still out of shape.’ It’s like, ‘What do you mean I’m out of shape? I’m playing 40 minutes.’ They’re like, ‘No, you’re out of shape: eight percent body fat, 25 pounds, that ain’t going to work.’ Right when I got there, day one, off the flight, it was like, ‘Oh, [you’re] out of shape.’ That was my intro to what the standard is in Miami.”
Vincent averaged 7.7 points on 39.9 percent shooting, 33.9 percent from three-point range, 1.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 195 total games over three seasons with the Heat. The numbers weren’t always flashy, but the California native left an impact, especially on the defensive side of the court.
The seven-year veteran is currently with the Atlanta Hawks after a midseason trade at the Feb. 5 deadline, who clinched an automatic spot in the playoffs for the first time since the 2020-21 season.
Vincent will be an unrestricted free agent during the summer. Despite an underwhelming tenure with the Lakers, the veteran guard is known to be an impactful player.
Make sure to check out the latest of the HeatWave Podcast, part of the Roundtable Sports Network, hosted by Miami Heat beat writer Anthony Aguirre.
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