Spurs can't let Devin Vassell get lost in the shuffle as backcourt debate rages

Which two members of Stephon Castle, De'Aaron Fox, and Dylan Harper should start? Can the San Antonio Spurs start all three? Both questions persisted throughout the 2026 offseason and have now followed San Antonio into training camp. Both questions reveal how Devin Vassell is in danger of being overlooked.

Vassell may not have the same name value or per-36 production that his teammates offer, but he's far too valuable for the Spurs to simply cast aside as a traditional supporting piece.

San Antonio's top priority should be figuring out how to structure their rotation with Castle, Fox, and Harper all in, entering, or approaching the realm of the stars. Perhaps there is a world in which all three start for San Antonio, as Harper has the size to defend the 2 and Castle can take on players at the 3.

Castle's bread and butter is defending guards, however, and it's fair to question if that backcourt trio can adequately coexist with all three shooting inefficiently from beyond the arc.

Regardless of what transpires on that front, one player should be safe as a starter and featured prominently on offense: Vassell. The former No. 11 overall selection has become an essential contributor, providing elite off-ball gravity, invaluable shooting, pivotal midrange proficiency, and arguably underrated defensive value.

With such a well-rounded player in the starting lineup, San Antonio shouldn't cut him out of the offensive hierarchy to make way for a potentially volatile solution to the backcourt debate.

Devin Vassell should remain a starter, play a high-volume role

Vassell finished the 2025-26 season with averages of 13.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.9 steals, and 2.5 three-point field goals made in 30.5 minutes per game. Only Fox played more minutes per contest than Vassell, and Castle joined them as the only three players on the roster to average 30-plus.

Vassell may not have blown analytics enthusiasts away with his efficiency, but his slash line of .434/.387/.815 and eFG% of .547 only tell part of the story.

Vassell was a rare source of spacing for a Spurs team that started a backcourt that featured two players in Castle and Fox who shot 33.2 percent from beyond the arc. Not only did he do an excellent job of ensuring there were optimal driving lanes, but he kept his man glued to him at all times.

According to Basketball Index, Vassell ranked in the 92nd percentile in off-ball gravity in 2025-26—and even still, he ranked in the 90th percentile in catch-and-shoot three-point efficiency.

Devin Vassell's elite off-ball gravity, shot creation make him invaluable

In addition to thriving away from the ball, Vassell offers invaluable quality with the rock in his hands. Per Basketball Index, he ranked in the 84th percentile in one on one shot making efficiency and the 94th percentile in midrange shot making efficiency.

Vassell's volume decreased dramatically, as he attempted his fewest field goals per game since 2021-22, but he made the most of the opportunities he was given.

Rather than cutting further into his role to appease the backcourt players, the Spurs must ensure that Vassell continues to be featured. Not only is he an excellent individual supporting player, but he made pivotal plays on both ends of the floor during the playoffs and has a habit of simplifying the game for his teammates.

For instance: Wembanyama's true shooting percentage increased by 4.5 percent when Vassell was on the court, Fox's jumped by 3.8 percent, and Castle's climbed by a monumental 12.7 percent. Even Harper's went up by 8.0 percent.

In other words: All three of the players fighting for minutes in the backcourt benefit immensely when Vassell is on the court. That can't simply be glossed over because the talent on the roster has created a logjam and Fox has too big of a contract to potentially become the sixth man.

Vassell must thus be safe in the starting lineup, featured in the offensive system, and positioned to continue realizing his potential as one of the Spurs' most important players.

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