Devin Vassell’s return couldn’t come at a better time for the Spurs, a team that’s been searching for answers after a bumpy start to the season.
A report from Shams Charania of ESPN gives Spurs fans a reason to perk up, especially with Vassell’s offensive firepower ready to get back on the court. After offseason foot surgery and a long stretch away from the action dating back to March, Vassell is set to inject life into a lineup that desperately needs it.
San Antonio, sitting at 3-5 and carrying the burden of the league’s fourth-worst offense, has struggled to find consistency. It’s no coincidence that their offensive woes align with missing Vassell’s scoring touch and sharpshooting.
They’re also missing coach Gregg Popovich, sidelined indefinitely after a recent undisclosed health issue.
Last season, Vassell was the Spurs’ second-leading scorer, putting up 19.5 points a night on a stellar 57.8% true shooting. Not to mention, his 3-point shooting was exactly the kind of spacing the team has been starving for — knocking down nearly 40% of his catch-and-shoot triples.
The Spurs are dealing with the blow of losing Jeremy Sochan to a thumb fracture, an injury that stings even more with Sochan’s recent breakout play. Without him, the defensive load shifts, but if Vassell can elevate his two-way impact, San Antonio could weather the storm.
Meanwhile, Chris Paul, initially brought in to add stability, has been trying to fill in for the sidelined Tre Jones, but the offense has yet to find its flow.
With Vassell cleared for all basketball activities and likely to debut during this homestand, the potential boost he brings can’t be overstated. His return should help space the floor for Victor Wembanyama, who has faced early-season growing pains under the spotlight of Year 2.
The hope? That Vassell’s presence reinvigorates an offense that needs every ounce of help it can get — and keeps the Spurs’ season from slipping too far off course.
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