SAN ANTONIO — This season, the San Antonio Spurs have their youngest roster ever since Gregg Popovich became coach in 1996, with an average age of 23.5.
However, the team does not lack leadership with Devin Vassell in uniform.
"It's next level," Jeremy Sochan noted. "He's been able to communicate with everyone."
The fourth-year pro is demonstrating how much he is embracing the leadership role with the team.
Against the Hawks on Nov. 30 at home, Vassell was constantly communicating with teammates throughout the closely contested game.
And when he was on the bench, he was talking to players during timeouts giving them instructions.
"We got a lot of young guys, got a lot of new guys, just got to try and help them out. Especially on me, I feel like it's a big year for me to step up my leadership role," Vassell said during the preseason.
That is a great asset to have on the roster but for Sochan, seeing Vassell take the leadership mantle isn't too much of a surprise to him.
"Ever since I've been here, since last year, he's been one of the leaders," he said.
Vassell is averaging 18.3 points per game along with 3.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists. He's also connecting on 50% of his shots and 41% from the three-point line.
He also is one of five Spurs in history with multiple outings of 5-plus three-pointers in his first 100 career games and without him this season, the team is 0-5.
In other words, he is important to the team not just on the stat sheet but with the intangibles he brings as the team leader.
"It's (leadership) next level and he is an elite player," Sochan said.
The team is off to a rough start to the new season at 3-16 and on a 14-game losing streak.
The Spurs will need Vassell's leadership to keep them focused throughout the season and to get through this current rough patch.
And Sochan welcomes Vassell's tough love approach.
"He's hard on us but at the same time it's love," he said.