Devin Vassell's return all but confirmed for most of Spurs' home stretch

The moment Spurs fans have been waiting for seems to finally be upon us. It's reminiscent of the scene in Lord of the Rings when Gandalf arrived at Helm's Deep on horseback with hundreds of reinforcements to help turn the tide of a battle that looked like catastrophe was moments away. But this time, an entire army won't be showing up; it will be Devin Vassell—and that's enough.

Vassell is San Antonio's most polished offensive player outside of an aging Chris Paul, who has been good, but he isn't expected to carry the same scoring load Dev is. The fifth-year guard from Georgia has been on ice since the last eight games of the 2023-24 season when he initially suffered the foot injury that has kept him sidelined ever since. His return is everything this team needs right now.

Vassell's scoring punch is just what the Spurs doctor ordered

Getting the team's second-leading scorer back is no small thing, especially for a team whose offensive rating is so low—they're ranked 27 out of 30 NBA teams with a rating of 106.2. Last season, Vassell scored 19 points per game, shooting 47% from the field and 37% from three. He's improved his game every offseason, so there's no reason to expect he didn't do the same over the summer.

He's a three-level scorer, excelling with high efficiency in several areas, and he hasn't even gotten a chance to take the court with Chris Paul yet.

One thing is certain: the 24-year-old sharpshooter is itching to get back on the floor with his teammates. He's made several posts on his social media accounts suggesting as much, and as much as he wants to get back on the floor, fans are right there with him.

When CP3 and Harrison Barnes were acquired, Victor Wembanyama was everyone's main focus as they projected the benefits of adding such well-respected veterans to the fold. However, Devin Vassell stands to benefit just as much, if not more than the 7'4" French phenom.

As an off-guard meant to share ball handling duties, he's going to learn easier ways to get to his spots. Chris Paul is a master of manipulating defensive coverages, understanding how opponents want to restrict the flow of offense, and countering it with consistency. Even though Paul can't do it at the same level he used to, he can still show Vassell what to look for.

Barnes, as an off-ball specialist, can show Vassell how to always stay in plays, making himself available for kickouts. Being in the right place at the right time is a skill that comes with experience, and the Golden State champion has plenty of that. There are zero downsides to Vassell's return, but the Spurs have everything to gain, especially while they wait for Jeremy Sochan to heal.

The Spurs will play the Utah Jazz on Saturday night. The Jazz are one of the worst teams in the league, providing Vassell with a soft landing for his arrival. It will be the second game in a five-game homestand against lesser teams for the Silver and Black. By the time they take to the road again, hopefully, they're ready to take it up a notch.

Update: Devin Vassell is expected to return on Saturday, November 9 against the Utah Jazz.