Vassell happy to return from brief absence
PORTLAND, Ore. — Officially speaking, Thursday’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers marked the first time Spurs guard Devin Vassell had been on an NBA court in eight days.
It only seemed longer.
“It feels like forever,” Vassell said.
Having suffered a thigh contusion in the second half of the Spurs’ loss to Atlanta on Nov. 24, Vassell missed victories over Boston and Washington while recovering.
He and starting forward Doug Mcdermott — who was sidelined for four games with right knee inflammation — were back in the lineup as the Spurs opened a three-game road trip in Portland.
The 21-year-old Vassell pronounced his quadriceps good to go after shootaround Thursday morning.
“It’s still a little tight, but, in general, it feels good,” Vassell said. “I’m happy to get back out there and try to continue this winning streak.”
Vassell suffered the injury when he collided with Atlanta’s Delon Wright while jostling for a rebound two Wednesdays ago.
He watched video of the play once, but said he could not deduce how the injury occurred.
“I still can’t really tell what happened,” Vassell said. “Somehow, some part of him hit right in my quad. It tightened right up.”
Vassell said he wanted to play in the Spurs’ victory over Washington on Monday.
The Spurs’ medical staff opted to err on the side of caution and give Vassell two extra days to recover.
Ultimately, Vassell was on board with that decision.
“I could have played, but it wouldn’t have been at 100 percent,” he said. “I think it was good to get it to where it needed to be.”
The 21-year-old Vassell is the Spurs’ highest-scoring bench player, averaging 12.2 points entering Thursday.
That is an increase of 6.7 points from last season. Among NBA sophomores, only Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey has seen a bigger jump from his rookie season at plus-10.5.
White, Billups share Colorado connection
Most basketball fans remember Portland coach Chauncey Billups for his exploits in the NBA, particularly with the Detroit teams that went to the Finals in 2004 and 2005.
Spurs fans recall Billups as a foil for the team’s third championship run in ’05.
For Spurs guard Derrick White, Billups loomed large over his college career at Colorado.
“When you are on the court (at CU Events Center), you look up and see Chauncey there,” White said, referring to Billups’ retired No. 4.
White’s connection to the Billups family runs deeper than that.
Billups’ younger brother, Rodney, was as assistant at Colorado and recruited White there in 2016.
Billups, like White, grew up in the Denver area and remains legendary in basketball circles there.
“He definitely had a big impact up there,” White said. “He’s loved all over Colorado, not just CU.”
Portland game draws a pro-eubanks crowd
If the crowd at the Moda Center seemed a little fuller Thursday, perhaps some credit goes to Spurs forward Drew Eubanks.
Eubanks grew up 20 minutes east of Portland in Troutdale, Ore., and welcomed a group comprised of friends, family members and former coaches to the game.
It was the first stop on what promises to be a whirlwind catchup tour for Eubanks, as the Spurs’ road trip moves to Golden State on Saturday and Phoenix on Monday.
“This will be a fun road trip for me,” Eubanks said. “I’m from Portland. I’ve got some friends in San Francisco, and my fiancée’s family is from Phoenix.”