'He Has So Much More': How Devin Vassell Has Begun to Truly Flourish As Spurs Leader

Before signing his staying-contract this offseason, Devin Vassell hadn't ever scored beyond 30 points in a game. Now, he's got two such outings to his name, but according to San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, his value is so much more than just scoring.

SAN ANTONIO — Devin Vassell might be new to the 30-point club, but he's far from inexperienced and without potential.

The San Antonio Spurs shooting guard entered this season with high expectations. His ceiling was among the best on the roster — especially considering how strong he proved his ability to score was — and there wasn't any question regarding the larger role he'd be taking on. But there still was one main question facing him and the team:

Would he be able to stay healthy?

Vassell missed over a month of the season last year with a knee injury that left the Spurs without one of their top playmakers for a long string of games, and without him, they struggled. Reaching 20 wins on the season was a lofty goal for San Antonio as a result, which only left room for the rising veteran to prove himself when he returned.

That he did. And he's only continued to do so this season.

"I feel like I've shown when I'm healthy, I can play with the best of them," Vassell said last season of his potential. "I don't have any regrets from this season. Everybody in the organization knows that when I'm healthy ... the team [plays] a great game."

Vassell's health was a big part of his contract negotiations. It was clear the kind of impact he could bring to the roster as a first-rate scorer and a solid defender, so if he was able to remain on the floor, retaining him long term was a no brainer. If not, the opposite rang true, but luckily for the Spurs, Vassell has remained healthy. 

But to him, that was expected.

"My knee is great," Vassell said prior to the regular season during media day. "It was tough last year, battling back and forth, in-and-out of games. Having to sit out and have surgery. But I took a lot away from that." 

Nov 2, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center / © Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

This season, Vassell has averaged 18.7 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists on a near-50 percent shooting percentage from the floor and near-40 from behind the arc. He's delivered the kind of production San Antonio re-signed him for, though his most recent outings have been even more promising than ever.

Against the Los Angeles Lakers, Vassell notched his first 30-point performance en route to a much-anticipated victory for the Spurs. He shot well from the floor and took over the game during its crucial points to rally his team to victory, and against the Milwaukee Bucks, the same was true.

San Antonio might not have won the second game, but it certainly came away with a lesson learned and a renewed motivation. And that's where the second part of Vassell's impact has come into play. Not only is he a scorer — he's a leader, too.

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"It's [been] great to see Devin's development over the last few years, but also this season," Wembanyama told reporters of his teammate in French. I can see that our duo can become very interesting and it's developing. Devin has the confidence of all his teammates and his entire staff.

"He’s part of the future of the franchise." 

Being a part of the Spurs' long-term plans is a success story of its own, but it only adds to it taking into account that Vassell is just in his fourth season in the league. He has a lot of room to grow, but has shown a level of promise that warrants the effort that goes into developing him on the court. 

And that's something that Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has picked up on.

San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center / © Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

"He was spectacular," the coach said of Vassell's second 30-point performance. "His aggressiveness is what we have been looking for."

"We tried to kind of convince him that he sells himself short if he just thinks of himself as a shooter. He has so much more."

What does that look like as a score-first guard? To have a "so much more" impact?

Vassell described it from a leadership standpoint, citing the ample chances he's gotten to learn from adversity and set the tone for his teammates' daily attitude and goals.

“The biggest thing I learned is to stay together," the shooting guard said about San Antonio's historic losing streak. "Don’t point fingers. At the end of the day, just look in the mirror and know you have to be better."

"I take that on myself to be a leader," he added. "We've got a really young team, and I feel like a lot of people look up to me to be that leader on the team."

Vassell's contract came with leadership implications. It might not be outlined in fine print, but being a five-year player making an All-Star-caliber salary certainly calls for accountability and intangible traits off of the court. 

And that, his teammates have noticed.

"I know I say this every time," Keldon Johnson said of Vassell. "But it does not surprise me when Devin makes shots because Devin is one of the hardest workers I know. I can do nothing but smile because I know he is putting in the hard work to be successful."

So, the mindset is there. Vassell cares about improving and helping his team improve, but at the same time, he does so while holding the Spurs accountable after losses. 

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But what good does accountability do without the on-court skills to back it up?

Luckily, Vassell doesn't have that issue, either.

“I think it's just [been about] staying aggressive," Vassell said. "There's times when I might miss two or three shots and I shy away and don't be aggressive, but at the end of the day, the team needs me to be aggressive.

"[And] my coaches and teammates always put me in positions."

So, if the team needs Vassell to be aggressive, that's what he's going to be. If they need him to be a leader, that's what he's going to be. The shooting guard is part of the long-term future alongside Wembanyama, and that isn't something he takes lightly.

Devin Vassell has begun to flourish. He's emerged as a true basketball star and an even better leader. Right now — with the losses beginning to pile up once again — that's exactly what the Spurs need. They need him.

And he's ready to show up.