Spurs' Devin Vassell expected to miss start of 2024-25 season due to foot injury
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San Antonio Spurs starting shooting guard Devin Vassell is expected to miss the start of the 2024-25 season after undergoing surgery for a stress reaction of the third metatarsal head in his right foot, the team announced on Friday. This injury forced Vassell to miss the final eight games of the 2023-24 season.
In addition to missing the start of the season, Vassell won’t be re-evaluated again until November 1.
Vassell, 24, has been a key offensive weapon for the Spurs since being drafted 11th overall in 2020. Last season, he played in 68 total games, averaging 19.5 points and 4.1 assists per game while shooting 37.2 percent from three-point range. He finished 12th in the voting for Most Improved Player.
Over his last two seasons with the Spurs, Vassell has averaged 19.1 points per game while shooting 37.8 percent from three-point range in 106 total games.
Since being drafted by the Spurs, Vassell has shown tremendous growth as a perimeter scorer and secondary weapon who can put the ball on the floor and get to his spots on the court. Next to Victor Wembanyama, Vassell ranked second on the team in scoring during the 2023-24 season and first in made threes (166).
How Devin Vassell’s absence impacts Spurs
Without Vassell on the court to begin the season, the Spurs will likely turn to Keldon Johnson and Malaki Branham to step up as scoring weapons on the wing. It is possible that fourth overall pick Stephon Castle will also see his minutes elevated, along with newcomers Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes, in the wake of Vassell’s absence.
On the bright side, the good news for the Spurs is that their frontcourt should be good to go at the start of the new 2024-25 season despite Zach Collins and Charles Bassey recovering from injuries this offseason.
Collins suffered a dislocated right shoulder in last season’s finale against the Detroit Pistons, leading to him undergoing labrum repair surgery. The team said Collins should be ready to play in the first game of the new season.
As for Bassey, he suffered a torn ACL last December while playing for the Austin Spurs in the NBA G League. Bassey has made great progress and is expected to be available for San Antonio’s season opener.
Not having Vassell to begin the new season is significant for the Spurs. Although he could be ready to go a few weeks into the new year, San Antonio was one of the worst offensive teams in the league last season. The arrivals of Paul and Barnes should help the Spurs in this department, but there is no replacing their second-best scoring option from a season ago.
The Spurs will provide a clearer update for Vassell’s on November 1.
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