From an outsider’s perspective, having an on-court view of the head-to-head between two of the NBA’s premier centers might’ve made it tempting to become a spectator. In Devin Vassell’s case, though, keeping one’s eyes disciplined and focused on victory allowed for rewards of every kind on January 3, 2025. One stop away from helping the San Antonio Spurs capture a signature, come-from-behind win over the Denver Nuggets, Vassell locks in, turning Nikola Jokić’s off-balanced pass attempt into a steal. Given the option of dribbling the clock out if his speed allows, the fifth-year guard does one better, outracing Jamal Murray in an other-end sprint before delivering an exclamation point-like two-handed jam. Two games above .500, and in the thick of the Western Conference’s wildly-competitive Play-In race at this time, San Antonio found Vassell’s steal-and-score sequence to be of incredible use. Multifaceted throughout, Vassell would finish with 18 points (on 7-of-16 shooting), six rebounds, six assists, two steals, and a 3-pointer. · Jan 4, 2025