“Tenacious, determined, and principled.” These were the words by which Gabe Vincent’s father described the Lakers’ point guard. But this isn’t just love for his son, that’s speaking. After all, if anyone can attest to his claims, it is the Lakers fans who see these qualities at the Crypto.com Arena every game. He’s been nothing but the most professional team player in his breakthrough LA season.

But all this has come through a ton of hardship endured in his life. It hasn’t always been easy for the Lakers’ no. 7, and all this is credit to the unbelievable parenthood of Franklyn and Cynthia. So on that note, let’s dive deep into the lives of the couple who nurtured a mature and quite exciting point guard.

Who are Gabe Vincent’s parents? What’s their nationality?

Gabe is the youngest of three under the guidance of Franklyn and Cynthia Vincent. Papa Vincent is of Nigerian descent and is more than proud of his heritage. He was born in December 1954 in Nigeria and spent his early years there before moving to the United States in his 20s. But if there’s anything Franklyn is prouder of in his life, it’s Gabe’s journey. “He’s come a long way,” Franklyn Vincent told Andscape. “He’s gone through lots of struggles. And 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 prouder to see my son in that situation.”

His mother, Cynthia Vincent, is American by nationality and of Caucasian ethnicity. This is the identity Gabe chooses to identify with, as seen by the fact that he plays for the Lakers under the American banner. Franklyn and Cynthia Vincent were former co-workers who fell in love, got married, had three sons, and have long lived in Modesto, California. But that’s enough of his upbringing—let’s talk about their backgrounds.

Who is Gabe Vincent’s father, Franklyn Vincent?

Gabe’s father, Dr. Franklyn C. Vincent, holds a doctorate in psychology and works as a consultant and practicing psychologist. And he’s made his Nigerian pride clear on multiple occasions. For example, he’s known for wearing traditional Nigerian attire and dancing at cultural events. Or how about the time when he took his family back to Nigeria to his hometown of Port Harcourt when Gabe was 3 years old? 

This was done because he needed to instill in his sons a sense of pride in their Nigerian background as well as self-confidence. “I taught him to have a sense of confidence, believe in himself, be respectful of others, and stay true to who he is and what he knows is best,” said Franklyn. The Nigerian way. No two ways about it. But that, blended with his mother Cynthia’s Connecticut independent pride, made him the player he is today.

Who is Gabe Vincent’s mother, Cynthia Vincent?

As mentioned earlier, his father met Cynthia at work. Dr. Cynthia Lin Vincent was born in June 1964 in Connecticut, USA. She has a doctorate in psychology and specializes in clinical psychology. Her 31 years of medical experience make her a respected veteran in her field. Although she’s not a practitioner anymore, her consulting roles thrive due to her credibility from working in the field for over three decades. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in medicine in 1992. And just like her husband, she’s more than proud of Gabe’s journey into the majors.

What is the family background and upbringing of Gabe Vincent?

The lives of Gabe and his two siblings were pretty much spent in Modesto, California, where Gabe was born. He is the youngest of three and has two older brothers, Justin and Benjamin. Despite both parents having demanding careers in psychology, they provided a nurturing and supportive environment. They strongly encouraged Gabe to pursue basketball and were instrumental in fostering his passion and dedication to the sport.

It’s tough to see supportive parents in today’s day and age. For Gabe Vincent, their belief in him took him through the hardships he endured in the NBA as an African-American. And this just proves that an upbringing rich and diverse in culture could just help your child do wonders. Parenting 101 from Franklyn and Cynthia Vincent—watch and learn.