NBA Shooting Guard Tier List: Where Does Devin Vassell Rank?

The San Antonio Spurs had the cap space to put together lucrative offers to lure coveted free agents to the 2-1-0 this offseason, and winning the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes added more pressure on them to accelerate their timeline. But Brian Wright and the front office took a cautious approach to team building with the intent of watching this young core develop into a contender organically.

Though the Silver and Black have assembled an impressive collection of talented prospects through the draft in recent seasons, Devin Vassell has somehow glided under the radar. The 23-year-old two-guard has a track record of overachieving projections, and he looks well-positioned to put himself on the map in the Alamo City. So, where does Vassell rank among the best swingmen in the league?

Tier One: All-NBA Contenders

These names are the crème de la crème of shooting guards in the NBA, and there is no question that Devin Vassell has much to prove before reaching the summit of his preferred position. Each player in this tier is a certified superstar with at least an outside chance of earning MVP consideration.

1.) Devin Booker
2.) Donovan Mitchell
3.) Jaylen Brown

Devin Booker, Donovan Mitchell, and Jaylen Brown are world-class scorers with the talent to anchor a massive share of the offense for a championship contender. Every front office dreams of finding guys who alter the momentum of a matchup, and their impact makes them practically untouchable.

Tier Two: Perennial All-Stars

This tier is home to a shortlist of players that are a slight step underneath superstar status, but they are all near-locks to secure a ticket to the annual All-Star festivities. Although you might not be able to build a title team around these guards, they can efficiently shoulder immense scoring loads.

4.) Bradley Beal
5.) Zach LaVine
6.) Anthony Edwards

Only a handful of hoopers become household names across every corner of the collective basketball community, and these swingmen deserve their flowers. Bradley Beal and Zach LaVine have a case for All-NBA honors almost every season, and Anthony Edwards looks prepared to do the same.

Tier Three: All-Star Hopefuls

Although none of these players are the undisputed face of their franchise, they have all functioned as the second or third option for a perennial playoff contender. Earning an All-Star appearance or taking home coveted awards is completely contingent on team success during the regular season.

7.) Klay Thompson
8.) CJ McCollum
9.) Tyler Herro
10.) Jordan Poole
11.) Desmond Bane

Vassell was in the middle of a breakout campaign with the Spurs before a knee procedure placed him on the sidelines and stifled his rhythm, but he has a legitimate shot at rising to this level over the next few years. All these guards have a more decorated résumé than the former lottery selection.

Tier Four: Up-and-Comers

We have reached the intersection of potential and production, and these young prospects each have a promising future in the league. A breakout season could launch them into full-fledged stardom, and their coaches are still willing to invest minutes and touches into their long-term development.

12.) Josh Giddey
13.) Austin Reaves
14.) Jalen Green
15.) Devin Vassell
16.) Jalen Williams

Devin Vassell averaged 19.4 points, 4.0 boards, and 3.6 assists during his first 29 games last season, but nagging knee soreness left him out of commission for two months. San Antonio is crossing their fingers that the fourth-year guard shakes off the rust and continues his All-Star trajectory.

Tier Five: Reliable Starters

Several familiar faces round out the final phase of this tier list, but no one has the two-way versatility that makes Vassell so valuable to the Spurs. Some of these players are one-dimensional, and others are defensive liabilites that make more sense coming off the bench as scoring spark plugs.

17.) Marcus Smart
18.) Kevin Huerter
19.) Jordan Clarkson
20.) Norman Powell
21.) Terry Rozier
22.) Gary Trent Jr. 
23.) Buddy Hield
24.) Malik Monk 
25.) Bennedict Mathurin 
26.) Kentavious Caldwell-Pope 
27.) Bogdan Bogdanovic

Though a closer look at these players shows that they share sparing similarities, most organizations would be thrilled to have them line up alongside an established core. There are no stars in this group, but they are all capable of contributing to winning basketball if placed in the right situation.

Tier Six: Spot Starters

Several familiar faces round out the final phase of this tier list, but no one has the two-way versatility that makes Vassell so valuable to the Spurs. Some of these players are one-dimensional, and others are defensive liabilites that make more sense coming off the bench as scoring spark plugs.

28.) De’Anthony Melton
29.) Matisse Thybulle
30.) Josh Green
31.) Quentin Grimes
32.) Caris LeVert
33.) Donte DiVincenzo
34.) Immanuel Quickley
35.) Grayson Allen
36.) Cameron Thomas
37.) Luke Kennard

Devin began his career as a 3-and-D swingman who struggled to unseat veterans on a lottery-bound team, and he has developed into one of the cornerstones of this talented young core. He could be an outstanding co-star for Victor Wembanyama if he continues exceeding expectations in the 2-1-0.