The Case for Devin Vassell as San Antonio's Most Efficient…

By the Spurs Nightly Desk · Thursday, September 17

Devin Vassell posted the best shooting efficiency of his career last season, a 57.4 true shooting mark and an 11.4 net rating over 67 games. He returns on a three-year contract with his starting job now drawing real competition for the first time in years.

Devin Vassell of the Spurs — Devin Vassell. Photo: SneakinDeacon, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

What role does Devin Vassell play on this roster?

Vassell starts alongside De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Victor Wembanyama as a wing who scores efficiently without needing the ball. He logged 30.5 minutes a night last season, took 6.4 threes a game, and posted a modest 17.6 usage rate — the profile of a complementary starter, not a primary scorer, on a team that went 62-20 last season.

How efficient was Vassell last season?

His numbers were career-best: 43.7 percent from the field, 38.4 percent on 6.4 three-point attempts nightly, and 81.5 percent at the line, adding up to a 57.4 true shooting mark. San Antonio scored at a 121.3 offensive rating with him on the floor, and the lineup's net rating reached plus-11.4, among the best marks on the roster.

Is Vassell's starting spot actually safe?

Not as safe as it once looked, according to Air Alamo. Cal Durrett wrote on September 15 that Vassell's starting spot isn't as secure as it used to be, given the depth San Antonio has added in the backcourt. Nothing on the roster has changed since that report — Vassell is still projected as a starter, but the competition is real heading into camp.

What does Vassell's contract look like?

Vassell is playing on a three-year deal: $27.0 million in 2026-27, $24.7 million in 2027-28, and $27.0 million in 2028-29. He is San Antonio's second-highest-paid player this season, behind only De'Aaron Fox's $49.8 million, on a payroll that sits at $198.3 million — over the cap, under the tax line of $200.4 million.

Is Vassell healthy entering training camp?

Yes. Vassell is not on the injury report entering camp, one of the few players on this roster without a listed issue. San Antonio's other health notes belong to younger players still working back from injury, leaving Vassell as a clean bill of health heading into his sixth NBA season.

The verdictVassell doesn't need to become a number-one scorer — he needs to keep producing at last season's efficient level while holding his ground in a deeper backcourt. Do both, and he stays the connective piece between Wembanyama's growth and Fox's playmaking.

How much will Devin Vassell earn this season?

$27.0 million in 2026-27, the first year of his three-year contract with San Antonio.

Is Devin Vassell injured entering camp?

No. He is not on the injury report as the Spurs open training camp.