Sam Vincent played seven seasons in the National Basketball Association from 1985 to 1992 and was a member of the Boston Celtics championship team that won the 1986 NBA Finals. Vincent played collegiate basketball at Michigan State University before being selected by the Celtics in the 1985 NBA Draft.
During his NBA career, Vincent played for several teams including the Seattle SuperSonics, Chicago Bulls, Orlando Magic, and New Jersey Nets. After retiring as a player, Vincent moved into coaching and leadership roles within basketball, most notably serving as head coach of the Charlotte Bobcats during the 2007–2008 NBA season.