Devin Vassell has the most inconsistently consistent value on the Spurs

When you think about the Spurs' accomplishments this season, you likely think of the trio of De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Victor Wembanyama, for obvious reasons. But what if I told you that the anchor to San Antonio's success is not one of those three players? That's right, it is Devin Vassell who has quietly become the glue to the Silver and Black core.

I am not here to say that Devin Vassell is the reason why the Spurs are the two-seed in the Western Conference. The team houses two All-Stars and an incredibly effective group of role players. But I am here to sing the praises of the San Antonio veteran.

While on paper, Vassell isn't having the most tremendous season, he is affecting the game in ways that go beyond the stat sheet. His value is coming in a way no one expected, and he is a key factor in winning basketball games.

These hidden stats paint an illustrious picture of Devin Vassell

From a glance, you would be quick to assume that Devin Vassell is hurting the Spurs more than he is helping. He is averaging fewer points than his previous three seasons and is shooting a poor 43.3% from the field. On top of that, his assist and steal numbers are down. But behind all of that is a player who cannot be replaced.

With Devin Vassell in the starting lineup, the Spurs have only lost 10 games. Remember, the forward missed a chunk of the season; in his absence, San Antonio dropped five of the twelve games. The Silver and Black are piling up victories when DV is starting.

Further, the Spurs' three most effective lineups by net rating include Devin Vassell. These three lineups are also San Antonio's highest in defensive net rating. It's no coincidence that the do-it-all guard is a part of this success.

Can you guess who is in the top three on the Spurs in on/off differential? You guessed it, Devin Vassell. With a whopping +6.2 net differential, San Antonio is increasingly better with Vassell on the floor.

This number trails only Victor Wembanyama and Julian Champagnie. According to Cleaning the Glass, DV has also added an estimated 13 expected wins. It's a fact that Vassell is not having a great offensive season, yet that hasn't stopped him from being impactful.

Most importantly, the 25-year-old has bought in defensively, and he's playing extremely sound basketball. Likely adding to his huge impact numbers, the guard is turning the ball over at only a 7.4% clip.

While in previous seasons the Spurs needed the sniper to be an efficient shot creator, his role on the team has now changed dramatically. With extra talent around him, Dev's value has skyrocketed. He has now become a supercharged role player who is constantly finding ways to help the team win games.

As weird as it is, it is extremely important for the Spurs to let Devin Vassell thrive. Once a major target in trade rumors among Alamo City fandom, the veteran has completely shifted the narrative.

Despite his clearly subpar offensive numbers in 2025-26, he is a critical member of San Antonio and cannot be ignored come playoff time.