Devin Vassell will miss few games following foot surgery

The San Antonio Spurs announced that guard Devin Vassell will miss the first five to ten games of the NBA season following foot surgery. Vassell, widely regarded as the Spurs' second-best player and expected to be a key running mate for rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama, will be sorely missed. Although the early-season absence isn’t enough to trigger panic among fans, the Spurs are aiming to be competitive this year, and a strong start is crucial to set the tone.

To fill Vassell's void, the Spurs will lean on Stephon Castle, Malaki Branham, and Keldon Johnson on offense, with veterans Harrison Barnes and Chris Paul expected to take on expanded roles. With a challenging opening schedule, including matchups against MVP contenders Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Spurs will need to be sharp.