Devin Vassell's most underrated attribute unlocks Spurs' championship potential

Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper have been dominating the headlines for the Spurs this postseason, and rightfully so. Still, not enough people are talking about the impressive two-way impact that Devin Vassell is providing for San Antonio.

Now, his numbers haven't been the most flattering throughout the playoffs. He's averaging just 12.5 points on 41% shooting and 32% from downtown, so the scoring and efficiency haven't been great. But he's been making timely plays, whether they're big defensive stops or clutch baskets, that have been huge for San Antonio.

In the playoffs, X-factors are important. Players who can create value on the margins are key to winning games on this stage, and that's exactly what we're seeing from Devin Vassell.

Vassell needs credit for his unselfishness

The Devin Vassell we're seeing now isn't the one we watched years ago. In his third and fourth seasons, he was a high-volume scorer for the Spurs, shaping up to become a star-caliber offensive option with his ability to create his own looks off the dribble. He even signed a massive five-year, $146M extension.

But with the growth of Stephon Castle and Victor Wembanyama, along with the additions of Dylan Harper and De'Aaron Fox, it became clearer that Vassell's role would shift. No longer was he needed as the Spurs' go-to scoring option. Now he's tasked with providing secondary creation, off-the-catch shooting, and perimeter defense.

He embraced that smaller role without any complaints and has been a catalyst behind the Spurs' red-hot postseason start. He's made some big shots over the last few weeks, and his defensive playmaking has also been impressive.

Look no further than San Antonio's Game 1 win over the Thunder, where he had a game-sealing block, rejecting Chet Holmgren at the rim on a shot that could have cut the Spurs' lead to just two. He was also devastating as a primary defender, forcing opponents into tough looks.

Vassell's defense will continue to be the ultimate X-Factor for the Spurs

From this point on, Devin Vassell has to continue to be a reliable defensive presence for San Antonio. The remaining competitors in the NBA playoffs feature a fleet of elite perimeter scorers. The Knicks have Jalen Brunson. The Cavaliers have James Harden and Donovan Mitchell, and obviously, the Thunder have Jalen Williams and SGA.

Star-level perimeter shot creation is the name of the game for the last teams standing this postseason, so Vassell must continue to be resourceful as a stopper if San Antonio wants to turn this into a title run. And he's been blessed with the tools to do so. He's 6'5" with great mobility and a 6'10" wingspan.

If he can keep getting key stops against those elite one-on-one scorers, it will go a long way for the Spurs through the rest of the playoffs.

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