Ranked at No. 67 in the NBA Top 100 players for the 2024-25 season, Devin Vassell’s steady rise up the player rankings is noteworthy. Last season, he was ranked 82. His ascent reflects not just his growing influence on the court but also the potential he carries as a young talent on a Spurs team revitalized by the arrival of Victor Wembanyama. At 24, Vassell is entering a critical juncture in his career. He is showing clear improvement as a playmaker and scorer, but if he is to truly rocket up the rankings in the future, there are key areas in which he needs to grow, especially on the defensive end.
Devin Vassell Continues To Rise Up Top Player Rankings
What Vassell Does Well
One of Vassell’s most impressive strengths is his efficiency. In the 2023-24 season, Vassell boasted a true shooting percentage of 57.8, highlighting his ability to score efficiently from multiple areas of the floor. For a player running pick-and-rolls alongside Wembanyama, such shooting is crucial, allowing the Spurs’ offense to stay fluid. His shot creation has also become more refined, a result of both his improved playmaking and increased physical strength. As he’s gotten stronger, Vassell has become a more reliable driver and finisher, adding another dimension to his offensive game.
Moreover, he takes care of the ball exceptionally well. His creation turnover percentage stands at 8.6 percent, a remarkably low number for a player tasked with handling the ball as much as Vassell. That discipline is exactly what you’d expect from a player under Gregg Popovich’s tutelage. It helps that Vassell has developed strong chemistry with his teammates, including Wembanyama. His ability to move between lineups seamlessly, as shown by his portability rating in the 74th percentile, makes him an ideal fit for a Popovich-coached team, which values adaptability and system over individualism.
Defensively, Vassell may not be an elite stopper, but he plays a clean game. He doesn’t commit silly fouls, a skill often underappreciated in a league where games are frequently decided by slim margins. Knowing how to stay disciplined without giving up easy points is essential, and Vassell has already mastered that to an extent.
Room for Improvement: The Key to Rising Further
On the Defensive End
While Vassell has become an efficient scorer and a responsible ball-handler, his defensive game remains an area in need of significant development. Coming out of college, Vassell’s draft profile touted his defensive potential. He entered the NBA as a prospect expected to guard multiple positions with his 6-foot-10 wingspan, but his defensive impact has fallen short of expectations. His Crafted Defensive Plus-Minus sits at a disappointing 21st percentile. That’s an alarmingly low number for a player with his physical tools. While his 2.1 deflections per game are about league average, Vassell has not emerged as the versatile defender many hoped he would become.
To rise higher in the player rankings, Vassell needs to make strides defensively. With his wingspan, he should be able to guard positions one through three, but right now, that’s not the case. If Vassell can improve his strength and defensive awareness, he could form a devastating defensive trio with Wembanyama and Stephon Castle. Wemby is already viewed as a generational defender. Castle projects to be a great defender. The Spurs could transform into a top-tier defensive team if Vassell can step up in this area. Vassell weighed 200 pounds at the start of last season. Anthony Edwards is 25 pounds heavier while being an inch shorter. Vassell needs to get stronger without sacrificing his quickness.
On the Offensive End
Offensively, Vassell also needs to put more pressure on the rim. His current free throw rate is just 19%, lower than the league average. For a player with his offensive load, he needs to drive more aggressively and get to the foul line more often. Doing so would not only increase his scoring efficiency but also open up opportunities for his teammates, forcing defenses to collapse and creating kick-out opportunities for shooters.
No one is expecting Vassell to become a dominant scorer in the mold of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. However, upping his free throw rate and finishing at the rim more would take his game to the next level. The Spurs don’t need Vassell to dominate the ball — they have other primary ball-handlers like Tre Jones and Jeremy Sochan — but they do need him to provide consistent scoring, particularly as an off-the-catch shooter or when attacking in motion.
The Road Ahead for Vassell and the Spurs
The future is incredibly bright for both Devin Vassell and the San Antonio Spurs. With Chris Paul and Castle also likely to play significant roles as ball-handlers, Vassell won’t need to shoulder as much of the playmaking responsibility. His primary role will be to provide efficient scoring, particularly when paired with Wembanyama in pick-and-roll situations. If he can average closer to 23 to 25 points per game while continuing to improve his efficiency, Vassell could become an even more integral part of the Spurs’ offensive core. He averaged a respectable 19.5 points per game during the 2023-24 season.
Expect To See Devin Vassell Rise Up the Top Player Rankings
Ultimately, Vassell’s future is in his hands. At 24, he has plenty of room to grow, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. If he can unlock the potential that scouts saw in him when he was drafted, Vassell could find himself skyrocketing up the player rankings in future seasons, potentially becoming one of the top wings in the league. For now, his No. 67 ranking reflects both his current ability and the immense potential he has to elevate his game even further.
