Spurs' Vassell expected to miss start of season
San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell is expected to miss the start of the upcoming campaign as he continues to recover from offseason foot surgery, the team announced Friday, per NBA insider Marc Stein.
Vassell sustained a stress reaction in the third metatarsal head in his right foot, which sidelined him for the final eight games of the regular season.
The Florida State product averaged a career-high 19.5 points on 47.2% shooting to go along with 4.1 assists, 3.8 boards, and 1.1 steals per contest across 68 appearances in 2023-24. Vassell tied for 12th in Most Improved Player award voting.
Vassell is entering the first season of a five-year contract extension that could reach up to $146 million if he meets specific incentives.
Meanwhile, centers Zach Collins and Charles Bassey are slated to return to the lineup for the Spurs' season opener against the Dallas Mavericks on Oct. 24. Collins is recovering from a torn labrum, while Bassey is working his way back from a torn ACL.
San Antonio is expected to improve upon last season's 22-60 mark. The team added veterans Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes to a young core headlined by French phenom Victor Wembanyama.