The San Antonio Spurs have suffered through plenty of injuries already this season, with various ailments sidelining Devin Vassell and Jeremy Sochan for extended periods already. As a result, the Spurs have opted to play rookie Stephon Castle in the starting lineup and have Vassell come off the bench.
In nine games this season, he is averaging 16.6 points, 1.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.5 "stocks." He is also shooting a career-high 42.3 percent from 3-point range.
Last year, Naz Reid won Sixth Man of the Year while averaging 12.7 points and 5.2 rebounds. Of course, last year's Minnesota TImberwolves team was better than this Spurs squad, but Vassell might quickly find himself in the running.
Should he not return to the starting lineup, he will certainly be the best bench player in San Antonio and one of the better ones across the league. While his move to the bench might have been unexpected, he seems to be taking it in stride.
"If we need more energy coming in, sometimes we get off to a slow start, so sometimes we just need that spark off the bench, whether it's offensively or being in the passing lanes or whatever it is," he said. "Just trying to bring in that spark however I can."
The Spurs are the second-worst first-quarter scoring team in the NBA, so more often than not, they need a spark off the bench. However, they are the sixth-best third-quarter scoring team, so clearly they are able to get back on track rather quickly.
Related: Which Fan-Favorite Do the Spurs Need to Give a New Role?
Currently, according to FanDuel, Vassell isn't even in the running for the Sixth Man of the Year award. Granted, he can only miss two more games before he becomes ineligible, so that alone might hold him back, but if he can remain healthy, there's no reason why he shouldn't be a nominee.
Related: Which Premier Player Wants to Be a Spur?
Copyright 2024 Athlon Sports. All rights reserved.
This story was originally published December 11, 2024, 9:30 AM.