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“I Couldn’t Be More of a Proud Dad “: Despite the Heat Trailing Behind in the Finals, Nigerian Guard’s Father Swells Up With Pride

Published 06/11/2023, 9:50 AM EDT

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USA Today via Reuters

Game 4 of the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat saw the Denver Nuggets emerge victorious out of the Kaseya Center with a score of 108-95. With this victory, the Nuggets now lead the series by a commanding 3-1 margin, putting them tantalizingly close to winning their first championship trophy. The fact that teams with a 3-1 lead in the Finals have won in 35 of the previous 36 instances only serves to boost the Denver Nuggets‘ stance going into the following game. Unfortunately for the Heat, they might just have to let go of their championship hopes.

However, even though the Heat is trailing behind, a Nigerian guard’s father stands with his head held up high because of his son.

Miami Heat’s guard made his father swell with up pride

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The Miami Heat encountered obstacles in Game 4 of the NBA Finals as they struggled to rely on their backup players. Both Gabe Vincent and Max Strus had trouble getting into a groove. The duo scored just two points together on a combined 1-of-10 shooting effort that included a 0-of-7 from beyond the arc. Key players like Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo were under even more strain as a result of these circumstances. However, both players had outstanding performances with 25 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists, and 20 points and 11 rebounds, respectively. The Heat’s insufficient offensive help from their backup players hampered their performance as a whole.

The Heat also struggled to make their three-point attempts. In Game 4, they attempted only 25 shots from beyond the arc. This is a huge drop from the previous games in the championship. Because of the decreased volume, they were unable to spread the field and take advantage of long-range scoring opportunities. These restraints in shooting along with a general lack of role-player support presented complications for the Heat.

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Meanwhile, even though the Heat finds themselves in an impasse, Gabe Vincent’s father revealed his immense pride in his son.

USA Today via Reuters

Franklyn Vincent took the bold decision to leave Nigeria, where he had grown up, and migrate to America in 1980. He embarked on a road that would not only improve his own life but also have a profound effect on his family. Franklyn did so because he felt the need to “better himself” and pursue a high-quality education. Today, his youngest son, Gabe Vincent, is in a position to reach a significant milestone by winning his first NBA championship with the Miami Heat. This feat has the power to inspire and give hope to aspirants from Nigeria, Africa, and all around the world.

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Franklyn Vincent said, ” “He’s come a long way. He’s gone through lots of struggles. He’s very tenacious. Determined. Very principled. What else can I say? He’s an all-around nice young man. I couldn’t be more of a proud dad to see my son in that situation.”

Vincent’s journey from being an undrafted UC Santa Barbara graduate in 2018 to starting point guard for the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals is truly inspiring. The product of Modesto, California, started out in the G League with the Stockton Kings before catching the eye of the Miami Heat. The team then signed him to a two-way contract on January 8, 2020.

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He had his humble beginning as a “gunslinger” for Sioux Falls Skyforce of the G League. Despite this, Vincent’s growth and drive allowed him to overtake six-time All-Star Kyle Lowry and secure the starting position in the NBA Finals.

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Written by:

Ranjitha Ramesh

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Ranjitha Ramesh is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports. With a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, Ranjitha has a strong foundation in reporting and writing. Her passion for basketball, particularly the Lakers and LeBron James, fuels her desire to delve into the lifestyle and off-court activities of NBA stars.
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Edited by:

Debmallya Chakraborty