In a league full of diversity and uniqueness, there is an archetype of player that is starting to go extinct. As we have seen with the non-shooting, bruiser-type center and pure lock-down defenders, there are some molds of players that begin to fade as time goes on.
Now in 2025, we are witnessing the collapse of a new style of play. This mold of player has drastically struggled to get paid and often been sent to the pits of doom by their respective franchise.
Unfortunately for the Spurs, they may have a player who fits exactly into the blueprint: Devin Vassell. But, with a great season potentially ahead, they can solidify themselves as a valuable piece and someone who belongs on a championship contender.
What is the struggling archetype?
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This type of player scores at high volume but with low efficiency. Empty stats, if you will. This player is not a good defender and is a vantage point for the opposing team. This player also has tunnel vision and struggles to make plays for his team. Does this sound familiar?
A few examples of this type of player are Cam Thomas, Jalen Green, and Coby White. Each of these players knows how to fill it up but can't do much else. Cam Thomas is currently struggling to secure a contract in restricted free agency, while Jalen Green has been traded away from the team that drafted him. It is clear that these types of players are not valued in the NBA.
Because they can't contribute in the playoffs due to their volatility, these players are being banished. It is hard to have a player like this step foot on the court when you have no idea what they will give you. Additionally, without any defensive chops to speak of, it makes it even more difficult to trust these players when it matters most. But that is what makes Vassell different.
Devin Vassell evades the group with his defense
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While Vassell has shown many of the traits similar to this prototype of a scoring guard, his twitchy defense makes up for it. Even if the mid-range maestro struggles with efficiency or tends to take too many difficult shots, he can at least hold his own on defense.
With this skill, [Vassell can still be a valuable asset to a playoff rotation](https://airalamo.com/spurs-underrated-player-breakout-sixth-man-year-candidate). This will be especially important next season. In [a make-or-break season](https://airalamo.com/devin-vassell-officially-hot-seat-after-spurs-drastic-changes), Vassell will not only need to prove he can be trusted as a sniper, but it will also be imperative that he continues to give his all on the defensive side of the ball.
If the 24-year-old can't make an impact on defense, there is a very good chance that he will slip to the end of the rotation and eventually be shipped off to a new team, just like the players in the aforementioned archetype. At risk of falling into a fading group, the time is now for Vassell to prove the doubters wrong.