Devin Vassell’s clutch stats show he belongs among the NBA’s very best role players

Devin Vassell has been finding his stride over these last few games, providing the San Antonio Spurs with some strong two-way play. He's also been a consistent late-game performer, ranking sixth in the league in clutch field goal percentage. You don't need more proof than that to understand that he's one of the NBA's most valuable role players.

Vassell's scoring versatility is a monumental difference-maker for the Spurs' offense. He can play off the ball by camping in the corner or running around screens to get open, and he's also a reliable secondary shot creator who can use his handle to free up space for his own looks.

But his ability to put the ball in the basket during crunch time has been important for this Spurs group so far this season, and it's one of the driving factors behind this team's recent hot streak.

Vassell has come up big in late game situations this season

The veteran forward has been so reliable for Mitch Johnson in the clutch, hitting several big shots to help the Spurs execute in those late-game situations. In their win against the Utah Jazz, he scored a season-high 21 points, with several of those coming down the stretch in the fourth quarter and overtime.

That elite scoring versatility was on full display. He wasn't just standing outside the three-point line waiting for the ball to swing his way; instead, he made aggressive cuts to free himself for a few mid-range jump shots and a layup, helping the Spurs come out on top.

It's not always easy to be such a reliable clutch performer in his role. He isn't a top shot-creating option for the Spurs, so he won't get as many opportunities to find his offensive rhythm as Victor Wembanyama, Dylan Harper, Stephon Castle, and De'Aaron Fox. Regardless, this team knows they can rely on him to show up during winning time and hit big late-game buckets.

Vassell is the ultimate do-it-all player for the Spurs

Vassell's strong clutch play is just one aspect of his impact on this team. He's also one of their best perimeter defenders, forcing opponents into tough shots and turnovers. Additionally, he's a solid secondary playmaker, and that's been another way he's helped fuel the Spurs' late-game offense.

It's hard to imagine this team becoming a Western Conference powerhouse without Vassell. He sacrificed some of his touches and shot attempts to become more of an all-around 3&D threat, and his embrace of those new duties is paying dividends for the Spurs.

This doesn't mean that his knack for scoring the basketball has gone away, though; he's just mastered how to balance it out wth those other things. But when the time comes, he can still put the ball through the net, and we've seen him do that this season, especially in those down-to-the-wire moments.

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