6 Things Spurs want to see more than wins this season

2. Vassell making the leap Spurs fans know he is capable of

Can Devin Vassell become a star in his fourth season? Fans have seen growth each year, but knee injuries limited him to just 38 games last season. The 6’5 wing was playing a career-high in minutes and looking like a star. He averaged 18.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.1 steals in 31.0 minutes per game. Vassell shot a career-high 43.9 percent from the field and 38.7 percent on his threes over the limited sample.

The Spurs know the 23-year-old has All-Star potential. His health is most important. Is the knee injury a thing of the past or the start of something that plagues him for the rest of his career?

The team labeled it as knee soreness, but it caused the 6’5 wing to have surgery in January. He returned for nine games near the end of the season. Expect him to be healthy to start training camp, but another knee injury is the last thing the franchise needs.

The San Antonio Spurs want to see Devin Vassell score over 20 points per game, improve his efficiency, upgrade his defense, and become a star. They are going to put him in a position to prove he can be the team’s number two or three on a contender. Vassell needs to make small gains across the board, and it will be fascinating to watch his development.