Report: Devin Vassell will miss the start of the 2024-25 season
Yesterday at 03:55 PM
The guard will participate in non-contact basketball activities, but miss the beginning of the season.
Training camp is days away and San Antonio Spurs already have bad news. The team announced on Friday that Devin Vassell will miss the start of the 2024-25 season, recovering from foot surgery.
Vassell missed the last eight games of the 2023-24 season to undergo surgery for a stress reaction of the the third metatarsal head in his right foot. He will still participate in non-contact basketball activities as he ramps up for the new season. The Spurs expect his status to be updated on November 1st, meaning he will miss at least the first five games of the season.
This is a major blow to the Spurs who relied on Vassell's shot creation and scoring alongside Victor Wembanyama last season. Vassell played 68 games last season in which he averaged 19.5 points and 4.1 assists while shooting 47.2% from the field and 37.2% from deep. This season marks the first year of Vassell's 5-year $146 million extension – a contract indicating the Spurs high hopes in the 5th year guard.
The Spurs also reported that both Zach Collins and Charles Bassey will be ready for the start of the new season. Collins is cleared for all basketball activities coming off a dislocated shoulder, while Bassey is in a "progressive ramp up" after tearing his left ACL last December. Those two players will be vying for the Spurs backup center role.
With Vassell missing the first few games, there is a new opening in the Spurs starting lineup. Wembanyama and veteran addition Chris Paul are near locks for the first five, while Jeremy Sochan, Harrison Barnes, Julian Champagnie and Keldon Johnson are strong contenders for the last three spots. Don't count out the rookie, Stephon Castle, who made a good impression with San Antonio in the Summer League.
The Vassell injury also leaves an opportunity for a few young players to step up and earn minutes. Malaki Branham, Blake Wesley and Sidy Cissoko were once considered to be on the fringes of a 10-man rotation. Now they find themselves fighting for a spot in the top-10 during training camp.
The loss of Vassell for even a short period is a big blow to San Antonio's prospects. It's next man up for the Silver and Black as they look to fill in the hole left by one of their best scorers. If nothing else, the injury opens up plenty of training camp intrigue. Spurs fans can look forward to learning more on the team's media day next Monday, September 30th, with camp beginning immediately after.
