Today is Devin Vassell’s twenty-sixth birthday. What a roller coaster ride for such a young man. In his professional life, he was drafted eleventh overall in 2020. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, his first season was truncated. The team was in disarray, at least by Spurs standards.
The year before Vassell was drafted, the Spurs played their last playoffs. That summer, they drafted Keldon Johnson, now the longest tenured member of the squad. Ever since, they had not had a winning season or played in a playoff game…until 2026. The Spurs went from a 34-48 record in 2025 to a 62-20 record that not only introduced the Spurs draftees to the postseason, it took the team to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014.
Vassell commented during a postgame press conference that he and Johnson had been working toward this for a long time. He referred to KJ as his “brother” as he shared a heartfelt moment about the team making the playoffs.
From the drafting of Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, and Carter Bryant to the addition of veterans De’Aaron Fox, Harrison Barnes, Luke Kornet, Kelly Olynyk and Bismack Biyombo through the finding hidden gems Julian Champagnie, David Jones Garcia, and Jordan McLaughlin, the team made a huge leap last season. And Vassell was an integral piece to their success.
When not in season, Vassell hosts a variety of basketball camps both in San Antonio as well as in his home state Georgia. He joined some teammates in visiting Victor Wembanyama this summer, indulging in art and culture while working out and staying sharp.
The ceiling on the Spurs is significantly higher than it has been in years, and after their Finals appearance, the next steps promise to be the most exciting.
Happy birthday, Devin, may all your wished come true this year.
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