The San Antonio Spurs are only 7 games away from putting an under-par season to a close. They have been the worst team in the Western Conference all season and have no shot at making it to the playoffs. As the Spurs head into a crucial off-season, they have received more devastating news to add to their concerns. Their young stars Devin Vassell and Jeremy Sochan’s seasons are unfortunately coming to an abrupt end two weeks earlier than usual. A recent report has ruled both of them out for the rest of the season.

Devin Vassell, who has been dealing with a foot injury, underwent an MRI this morning. It revealed a stress reaction to the third metatarsal head in his injured (right) foot. He also missed yesterday’s game against the Golden State Warriors because of the injury. Meanwhile, Jeremy Sochan will need time off to undergo an arthroscopic surgery to fix his left ankle impingement.

Sochan suffered the injury during Friday’s overtime thriller against the New York Knicks. He left the court after playing only 17 minutes and sat out for the Warriors game too. Sochan will use his early time off to rehab from the injury and prepare for next season. Despite the Spurs having an embarrassing year, the 20-year-old had a decent showing in his sophomore season. The 20-year-old leaped from playing 56 games in his rookie season to 74 games this season. His increased game time did not affect his numbers. He bettered himself in all categories, averaging 11.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists. The Spurs will look to build on Sochan’s talent after he recovers from his surgery. What about Vassell?

Devin Vassell stats

While Victor Wembanyama was the focal point for the San Antonio Spurs this season, Devin Vassell proved to be a dark horse. He drastically improved on all facets of his game and displayed the potential of becoming a future star. Vassell played 68 games this season, averaging a career-high 19.5 points, 4.1 assists, and 3.8 rebounds. That is a massive upgrade from the 23-year-old’s 2022-23 campaign, which ended because of a knee injury after only 38 games. After witnessing potential, the Spurs might pair him alongside Wembanyama for a long time.

Vassell and Wemby have developed great chemistry in just one year. The duo has become a solid one-two punch, with Vassell assisting Wemby 87 times this season. Not only has Vassell played well alongside Wembanyama, but he has held his own in the rookie’s absence. In the 8 games Vassell has played without Wembanyama this season, he averaged 17.5 points, 4.8 assists, and 3 rebounds. As the Spurs rebuild around Wembanyama, Vassell could play the role of a young Kawhi Leonard in this new era! He has a similar defensive tenacity as Kawhi and a lethal scoring ability.

The Spurs gave Vassell a 5-year $135 million rookie scale extension last October. So, he might already be a part of their long-term plan. Although the Spurs had a forgettable year, they might look back at this season to trace the start of a new era for their franchise. With future stars like Victor Wembanyama, Devin Vassell, and Jeremy Sochan, the Spurs might be heading toward building another dynasty.

Read More: Jeremy Sochan After Bagging $25,000 With 0 Points in Rising Star’s Challenge: “Easiest 25 I Ever Made”