Devin Vassell uses the dreaded ‘S’ word after brutal loss to Pelicans

In his return from injury, San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell pointed to a problem that has plagued the team for several weeks. Although the word “soft” has not yet been directly mentioned, the allusions to it have. The sixth-year guard didn’t shy away from saying the phrase after the 104-95 home loss to the New Orleans Pelicans.

“You don’t want to be a team that is perceived as soft.”

That phrase came in response after Vassell was asked if his mindset regarding physicality comes from a personal standpoint or from a team standpoint.

“Both, especially when it comes to physicality; just don’t let yourself feel like a failure.”

“Just so you don’t feel like you’re pierced…
You don’t want to be a team that is seen as a soft…”

-Devin Vassell responds to @CTtheMicSlayer‘s question about whether the related mindset is individual or team for #Spurs

Full answer⬇#PorVida#GoSpursGo pic.twitter.com/Ppmka4hvHk

— Hector Ledesma (@HectorLedesmaTV) January 26, 2026

Earlier this week, the head coach Mitch Johnson echoed similar sentiments after a setback with the Houston Rockets, declaring the Spurs no match for the toughness of their in-state rivals.

A week earlier, the Spurs lost a big lead in the fourth quarter, and the game after the Minnesota Timberwolves turned up their aggression. Like Houston, The T’Wolves are a contender for the Western Conference and the lineup the Spurs could see when it matters most for all three to make the playoffs as projected.

“I feel like that’s how teams come in. They’re like, ‘We’re in, we could be more physical than them.’ And that’s just not what you want,” Vassell admitted after this latest loss against New Orleans.

Spurs continue to struggle with the physicality of their opponents

The Pelicans entered the game at the Frost Bank Center with the worst record in the West.

“I think it’s just the biggest thing knowing that. That’s what teams are like,” Vassell continued. “They’re not going to outplay us, they’re not going to do this, they’re not going to do that. We’ve got to sit there and be more physical. And that’s just the key to it, honestly.”

Even worse than a last-place team’s decline at home is the trend San Antonio is finding these days. From that the aforementioned loss in MinneapolisThe Spurs are just 4-4. Even with the upset of New Orleans, they are still second in the conference. However, for much of the past few weeks, they’ve essentially had the same record as a Denver Nuggets squad dealing with massive injuries.

“If we’re going to be a team with high aspirations, we can’t take a game like that. Mitch was saying that they (the Spurs coaching staff) are gathering information about the way teams play us physical and bigger lineups and crash the glass,” added Vasell. “What needs to be done, I guess, other than not allowing 19 offensive rebounds and not being able to get pushed around because of the physicality and things like that.

In the middle of a a month where they face some of the best in the league consistently, the Spurs still face the vaunted Rodeo Road Trip where they’ll be on the road for much of February before the final shot that will determine their playoff berth. It’s a reality that Vassell says has to come with a unique approach.

“It’s more mental than anything, you know what I’m saying? We just have to know what their game plan is and hit somebody first and be ready to take that hit.”