Miami Heat's Gabe Vincent Goes From Two-Way Contract To NBA Finals Sensation

Before Sunday, the national media had no idea about Miami Heat guard Gabe Vincent.

They do now.

Vincent scored a team-high 23 points to lead the Heat to victory against the Denver Nuggets in Game 2 of the NBA Finals. The series is now tied at 1, shifting to Miami for Game 3 Wednesday.

He was with us in the bubble as a two-way guy," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "He took on I think the toughest role change for a young player. He was a gunslinger, 2-guard. We wanted to develop him into a combo guard, somebody that could organize us, be an irritant defensively, tough, learn how to facilitate and run a team. I think that's the toughest thing to do in this league, is turn a 2 into a 1. He openly just embraced that. Then he struggled at times with that because you're trying to reinvent yourself. Instead of saying, This is too tough, let me be me, he's really grown the last three years."

Vincent was 8 of 12 from the field, including four 3-pointers. He is continuing a steady path from undrafted player to a key cog on a championship-contending team.

"It definitely wasn't easy," Vincent said. "The staff was great with me, whether it was film or getting in the gym, and my teammates have been phenomenal, coaching me up, telling me to be more aggressive when I'm questioning it or trying to think, should I pass first. And our stars, Jimmy, Kyle, Bam, they have just been in my ear and telling me just to play, play basketball. They trust my IQ of the game, and they want me just to go out there and play hard.

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Shandel Richardson covers the Miami Heat for Inside The Heat.

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