When a popular Spurs-centered social media account asked fans which player on this year's roster has the most to prove, I was shocked to see so many people in the comment section answer with the name De'Aaron Fox. There were plenty of other options, and Fox wasn't even in the graphic shown in the post. The choices were Devin Vassell, Jeremy Sochan, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper.
Which Spur has the most to prove next season? pic.twitter.com/EzRgV5x5mI
— SpursMuse (@spurs_muse) August 13, 2025
To be clear, I think including Castle, who just came off a Rookie of the Year win, and Dylan Harper, a number two overall pick entering his rookie season, was silly. It would have been more compelling to add Keldon Johnson and Victor Wembanyama.
KJ will be starting his seventh season, and if he's not careful, he'll lose his spot in the rotation. Victor Wembanyama is the next great player, so with an improved roster, he's expected to lead San Antonio back to the playoffs. But those two don't have the heaviest weight on their shoulders to prove they belong in Alamo City. That burden belongs to Devin Vassell.
Vassell went from beloved to maligned among Spurs fans
I'm old enough to remember when Wembanyama was drafted and everyone was excited to see him and Dev play together. They were discussed as a potential dynamic duo who would take the league by storm, and now Vassell can't miss a shot without a new trade proposal being thrown around with his name in it.
Keldon went from beloved to on the outskirts of the love of a large percentage of fans, but it's different for him. There are elevated expectations when you show the kind of defense and tough shotmaking that Dev did. He was then paid much more than Johnson, and unfortunately for him, Spurs Nation is dead set on holding him to the standard that such a contract suggests.
His last season was inconsistent for the large majority of it because he didn't have his offseason to train. Everyone knows that, but it only takes you so far. When you're on the floor, you're expected to perform, and there were just too many nights when he didn't do that. But there's a silver lining.
Vassell picked it up at the end of the season. He started knocking down threes at a much higher percentage than he had. From March to the end of the year (22 games), he shot over 40%. But that tells part of the tale of the dismay in his trajectory. He was initially looked at as a premier piece, but the team needs him to be more of a straight-up three-and-D player.
Hopefully, he picks up where he left off. If he does, the Spurs may have something very valuable in the six-year shooter. If he can't even be that, the disappointment in the fan base may turn to rage and louder demands to get rid of him. Of course, we don't want that to happen. But it's on the table. That makes him the obvious answer to this question.