We are getting so close to the start of the NBA season (and yet it still feels so far away). Regular season tip-off is just 29 days away, and teams who have an overseas preseason trip are getting an early
start to training camp. As is an annual tradition when this time of year hits, sites start releasing rankings, one famous one being ESPN’s Top 100 Players. Today, they released players 100-51 for the 2025-26, and two Spurs made the list: second-year guard and reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle at 99th, and sixth-year veteran and second-longest tenured Spur Devin Vassell at 94th. Here is what ESPN had to say about them:
99. Stephon Castle, G, San Antonio Spurs
2024 NBA Rank: Unranked
The No. 4 pick of the 2024 NBA draft, Castle unwittingly applied a little pressure on incoming No. 2 pick Dylan Harper: He became San Antonio’s second consecutive player to win NBA Rookie of the Year and the fourth Spur to capture the honor, joining Victor Wembanyama, Tim Duncan and David Robinson. Castle started 47 games as a rookie and led his draft class in total points (1,190), made field goals (423) and steals (74). The runner-up in last season’s Slam Dunk Contest, Castle is San Antonio’s stickiest perimeter defender. — Michael C. Wright
Signature stat: On his way to winning Rookie of the Year, Castle had 26 20-point games last season, most among rookies and the fifth-most by a rookie in Spurs history.
Fantasy projection: 15.8 PTS, 3.9 REB, 4.4 AST
Even though Castle didn’t enter his rookie season with the highest of expectations, he still managed to stand out in an admittedly weak rookie class and made the most of every opportunity regardless of what role he was asked to fill. Now, he enters his second season as a predicted starter, as well as a fresh top-100 ranking to go along with it.
94. Devin Vassell, G, San Antonio Spurs
2024 NBA Rank: Unranked
Recovery from offseason foot surgery and multiple lineup changes contributed to Vassell’s failure to produce the type of season both he and the team expected in 2024-25. Despite taking somewhat of a step back offensively, Vassell flashed on occasion, dropping a season-high 37 points during a March victory over Brooklyn in addition to putting together four games with four steals. But inconsistency has been a defining characteristic for Vassell, who has the potential to be a solid two-way player and third or fourth option for a playoff team. — Wright
Signature stat: Vassell is the third Spurs player with 150-plus 3PM in consecutive seasons (joins Patty Mills and Chuck Person).
Fantasy projection: 17.0 PTS, 4.0 REB, 3.1 AST
After starting the season returning from foot surgery, it took Vassell time to find his footing (no pun intended) last season, and he was prone to the occasional scoring drought. He will face less expectations this season as the likely third option on offense with the starting unit, but no less scrutiny if he doesn’t deliver when called upon. Vassell has all the tools to be one of the best two-way role players in the NBA, and now is the time to put it all together.
As an added bonus, ESPN also listed players who could break into the top 100 next season, and that includes incoming rookie Dylan Harper.
Dylan Harper, San Antonio Spurs
Naturally, second-year players are the most common newcomers to NBA Rank, with an average of about three per year over the past decade. With only one rookie on this year’s list, the rest of the draft is available to join that group.
Of the 11 players drafted No. 2 since 2014, eight of them have made the NBA Rank top 100 by Year 2. The exceptions? Brandon Ingram (who made it for the first time in his third season), James Wiseman and last year’s No. 2 pick Alex Sarr. Harper might not have a large role as a rookie behind veteran starter De’Aaron Fox, which explains why he wasn’t in the top 100, but expect him to show enough promise to crack the list in a year.
This is most assuredly not the last we’ll see of the Spurs in the top 100 rankings, as presumably obviously De’Aaron Fox and Victor Wembanyama will make an appearance, perhaps even in the top 10 for the latter. It’s been a while since the Spurs had at least 4 presumed top 100 players, so that just adds to the expectations that they break their postseason drought and make the playoffs this season.
