Spurs' astonishing postseason run was impossible without crucial sacrifices

The Spurs' trip to the 2026 NBA Finals sent shockwaves throughout the entire league, issuing a warning about the next potential dynasty. But there's an even sweeter storyline hidden within. After years of work, Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson are finally getting the deep postseason run they deserved.

Johnson was drafted in 2019, while Vassell was selected in 2020. They've already cut their teeth, putting up impressive offensive performances early in their careers while also sitting through some rough seasons for the Spurs.

They've seen it all at this point, working through a rebuild and entering championship contention territory. The days of having to scour through League Pass to watch them are over; now they're being asked to produce on the biggest stage in basketball.

Vassell and Johnson's unselfishness made the Spurs who they are

The most important part of Vassell and Johnson's story is how they seamlessly shifted their roles over the years. Both of them were given higher priority on offense early in their careers, with Devin averaging 19 points per game between his third and fourth seasons. In the 2022-23 campaign, Keldon averaged 22 points per contest.

But the Spurs made some significant additions since then. You may remember that they added a guy named Victor Wembanyama a few years back. Their roster changes pushed Vassell and Johnson back a bit in their offensive roles, but they adjusted accordingly.

While Devin took a dip in shot attempts over the years, he fully embraced his new role as a catch-and-shoot option who could create in short spurts. He also added a dangerous perimeter defensive attack that got unleashed in the Western Conference Finals.

Keldon Johnson accepted a role off the bench without protest, and this earned him a Sixth Man of the Year nod. So both of them made the necessary sacrifices to serve the greater good of their organization, and it paid off.

The Spurs' Finals run doesn't happen without these two

The Western Conference Finals were indisputable proof of the value that Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell provide to the Spurs on both ends of the floor. Their victory over the Thunder couldn't have happened without their production.

Devin's shot-making in that series was timely. Whether he was draining threes off the catch or getting to his signature mid-range pull-up, he helped stave off countless OKC scoring runs to keep his team in a stable position. His defense also contributed to SGA's up-and-down play.

Keldon's Game 7 performance was (so far) the defining moment of his career. He drained two fourth-quarter threes and converted on a massive transition bucket to help close the series out for San Antonio.

These guys turned lemons into lemonade. A lot of players would have been disappointed in cuts to their shot attempts or losing a starting spot, but not these two. They starred in their new roles, and it led to one of the most impressive postseason runs in recent memory.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow