Spurs wing Devin Vassell, who has missed the team’s past 13 games due to a left adductor strain, is set to return on Sunday against New Orleans, writes Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News.
Vassell was a full participant in Saturday’s practice and expects to be on a minutes limit in his first appearance since December 29.
“I don’t know what the minutes will look like, but I am definitely excited to be out there,” he said. “I don’t think the minutes restriction will be too crazy, but you just have to be cautious with this type of injury. I haven’t played for like a month, so I still have to work my way back into shape. But I’m ready to go.”
A native of Georgia, Vassell started each of San Antonio’s 32 games to open the 2025/26 campaign prior to suffering the injury. The 25-year-old guard/forward averaged 15.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 31.9 minutes per contest while shooting 37.9% from three-point range.
According to Orsborn, Vassell is glad he decided not to rush back from the groin injury before he was fully healthy.
“With an injury like this, you don’t want to come back and then have to sit out again because it starts nagging you,” Vassell said. “I’ve been getting some good workouts in with my guys and I just feel good. I’m ready to go. But it’s definitely tough whenever you have to sit out and watch your teammates play. You feel like you can help. It always tests you mentally, for sure.”
The Spurs, who hold an overall record of 31-14, went 8-5 in Vassell’s absence, Orsborn notes.
Damn, it was so fun watching Castle and Harper get all those minutes. I guess we’re back to watching spot up three-pointers in transition because DV has no driving/passing game.
This makes no sense. First Vassell takes minutes from Champagnie more than the others. Second he has been their most effective shot maker and is their only mid range scorer. Third at 37% he has been above average from 3 and they have missed him badly during this stretch. Finally, Castle and Harper are dynamic but teams have figured out they go to the rim most times and have been waiting back for them greatly reducing their scoring efficiency.
Spurs need Vassell and probably one more shooter and this will free up Castle and Wemby to do more.
My point is that he is way to one dimensional and soft. There is nobody on the OKC & Denver rosters, who is only a shooter and doesn’t play defense, except for TH J on a minimum contract.
Looks like it was Barnes who got the biggest decrease in minutes, then Dylan, then Steph and then ju.
Disagree that he is soft and he actually is a really solid perimeter defender so not sure where that comes from. Barnes has just not been a factor and this is the spot they need to address at deadline.
Bigger issue right now is inconsistent effort. They think they can beat weaker teams by playing hard 10 minutes a night. 95 points against a terrible Pelicans team while their 7’4” inch “superstar” goes 2-10 from 3. They also went 19-32 on free throws – so debating their role players doesn’t matter much if they can’t fix those things
Way overpaid