For years, Gabe Vincent’s full beard was a part of his identity. But in a new video, when fans heard him announce his upcoming skills clinic in Santa Barbara, he appeared without his signature look—his beard—they were left shocked. Instead of showing excitement for the training camp, social media users were more interested in his rather unusual look…

The basketball player showed up in a clean-shaven look, appearing like a completely different person. But it doesn’t end here. He was also not sporting his braids that he is usually seen flaunting with his streetwear style. The timing of this change—right when trade rumors were swirling and his role with the Lakers was unclear—really got people talking. However, this also isn’t the first time people have taken notice of changes in his facial hair. 

Lately, they had noticed his beard looking patchy. And in the past few weeks, that became a point of discussion on Reddit, TikTok, and several other platforms. So perhaps the clean look wasn’t complete out of nowhere… or he could have been making a statement. At least, that’s what some fans think. Here’s the thing:

Vincent’s first season with the Lakers was ruined by injuries, playing just 11 games. This past year, he actually stayed on the court, playing in 72 games. But his impact was tiny: he shot only 40% from the field, averaged just 1.4 assists per game, and barely made his presence felt. For a player who was supposed to bring championship experience and tough defense, his time in L.A. has been pretty disappointing so far.

Then came the Lakers’ offseason moves. With their last bit of free agency money, they signed Marcus Smart. He is another defensive guard who plays the exact same role Vincent was brought in for. And with that, it became clear that the team didn’t really see him as a part of their rotation next season. Smart’s arrival didn’t just make things harder for Vincent; it almost pushed him completely off the team’s depth chart.

With an $11 million contract that’s about to end, Vincent is now seen as the Lakers’ most tradable player. His name has popped up again and again in trade rumors, including one idea that would send him to the Portland Trail Blazers for center Robert Williams III. In this situation, even a beard shave feels like part of the story—a visual hint of change, or maybe, a goodbye.

It’s with all this uncertainty that fans reacted to his new look. They immediately connected his clean-shaven face to him, likely leaving the team soon.

Fans react to Gabe Vincent without his signature look!

The shock from fans was clear. Many didn’t even recognize the Lakers guard at first. “Wait who is this?” one fan commented. It’s easy to see why. The beard was a big part of the tough, gritty identity Vincent brought to the Lakers. But his time in L.A. has been so full of uncertainties and inconsistent play that he’s never really been able to show that side of himself. After the Lakers’ playoff loss to the Timberwolves, he himself admitted he was disappointed, saying, “I would’ve loved to have more of an impact.” For many fans, the man in the video is a stranger because the impactful player they were promised never truly arrived.

Another fan was just stunned by the visual change, writing, “Bro looks completely different now.” It’s a big physical change, and often, that kind of change means someone wants a fresh start. For a player who has had such a frustrating two years in Los Angeles, getting rid of his signature look feels like a symbolic way of letting go of the past and getting ready for a new chapter.

“Got rid of the beard just like how the Lakers bout to get rid of him,” another fan comment read.

Another fan tried to link his new look to a classic movie. “He look kinda like Gee Money from New Jack City,” they wrote, a nod to the iconic 90s film character. It’s a funny comment that perfectly shows how unfamiliar his new appearance is to fans who have only ever known him with the beard.

But in the end, the conversation went back to his future. Another fan commented, “New look new team soon.”

The team is looking to build around Reaves, Doncic, LeBron James, and Deandre Ayton, and that demands more defensive players. Marcus Smart suits such a team better and seems to be at the right point in his career to do so. As for Vincent, the road ahead looks uncertain. What do you think?