The San Antonio Spurs have missed the playoffs for each of the last five seasons and are unlikely to break that streak this season. However, there is still a lot to be excited about in San Antonio. Most notable is their star big man Victor Wembanyama. The French native already looks like one of the best players in the NBA in his second season and should only continue to get better. Furthermore, the addition of legendary point guard Chris Paul is noteworthy, as are their other young players Stephon Castle, Jeremy Sochan, and Keldon Johnson. However, another player many seem to have forgotten about is Devin Vassell.
Vassell has missed the start of the 2024-25 season due to a foot injury. He remains one of the team’s most intriguing players and should provide a big boost upon his return to action. While not imminent, we have a good idea of when Vassell will return, and it is expected to happen very soon.
Per ESPN’s Michael C. Wright, Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich expects Vassell to return in early November.
Devin Vassell is indeed doing limited contact work. Pop said he expects Vassell back sometime during the first week of November.
— Michael C. Wright (@mikecwright) October 28, 2024
Estimated Timetable for San Antonio Spurs Wing Revealed
What Devin Vassell Brings to San Antonio
The 24-year-old is entering his fifth year in San Antonio and has gradually improved. Last season, Vassell played 68 games for the Spurs and started a career-high 62 games. In those games, he averaged 19.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.1 steals. Additionally, he shot 47.2% from the field and 37.2% from the three-point line. Vassell has established himself as a fantastic 3-and-D player and will remain an important part of the Spurs’ future.
Last year, Vassell signed a five-year, $135 million contract extension. This deal will keep him under contract through the 2028-29 season. Additionally, in June, Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress.com reported the Spurs deemed Vassell an “untouchable” in trade talks.
“Everything I hear is that they want to be competitive next year, they want to be in the playoffs. They’re not looking to make this a 2-3 year process… I’ve heard nobody in the roster is untouchable except Victor [Wembanyama] and Devin Vassell.”
The Last Word On Devin Vassell and the Spurs
To begin the 2024-25 season, the Spurs are 1-2. The Spurs have a difficult schedule coming up for them as well. In their next 10 games, the Spurs will face the Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings, and Los Angeles Lakers. Though they are an improved team from last season, it remains unlikely the Spurs will make a playoff appearance, and their schedule is exactly why. The Western Conference is incredibly competitive with a lot of fantastic teams. While there is sky-high potential in San Antonio, it is a bit too early to consider them a legitimate threat to make the playoffs this season. However, with Wembanyama, Paul, and Popovich in the mix, they should be a solid team. Additionally, once Vassell returns, the Spurs have the opportunity to surprise some people.
