The San Antonio Spurs have signed Devin Vassell to a five-year, $146 million contract extension, according to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Vassell would have become a restricted free agent next summer if the Spurs didn’t sign him to a rookie-scale extension.
Vassell appeared in 38 games for the Spurs last season. He averaged 18.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists while shooting 43.9% from the field, 38.7% from beyond the arc and 78.0% from the free-throw line.
The Spurs drafted Vassell with the 11th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft out of Florida State. The 23-year-old has career averages of 11.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 171 games while shooting 42.7% from the floor, 36.7% from 3 and 81.6% from the foul line.
The Spurs won just 22 games last season. They were tied with the Houston Rockets for the worst record in the Western Conference. San Antonio hasn’t made the playoffs since 2019.
The Spurs selected Victor Wembanyama with the first overall pick in the 2023 draft. San Antonio is expected to start Tre Jones, Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Wembanyama and Zach Collins this season. Wembanyama is scheduled to make his NBA debut on October 25 against Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and the Dallas Mavericks.
“The ideal start would already be the playoffs,” Wembanyama said in an interview with Lequipe. “For the rest… the best thing is not knowing. I hope it will surprise me and it will be beautiful. It’s no secret that it’s hard to win a ring. But I’m patient, and I know it will happen. Not winning my first few years is no barrier to becoming a Hall of Famer or winning five later.”
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