Devin Vassell’s Necklace: The Gold Cross He Wore on Opening Night

Devin Vassell arrived for the Spurs' season opener in Bottega Veneta, but the piece that caught our eye was much smaller: a gold cross at his collar. On a night when his teammates leaned on Chrome Hearts and Enfants Riches Déprimés, it was the only piece of jewellery to get a mention in the San Antonio Express-News round-up of the team's arrivals.

Here's who Vassell is, exactly what he wore before facing the Thunder, why one cross did so much work in that outfit, and how to put together your own version of the look.

One gold cross, nothing else at the neck. Featured: our Cross pendant in gold.

Jump to:

• Who Devin Vassell is
• His opening night outfit
• Why the cross stood out
• How Vassell dresses off the court
• How to get the look
• FAQs

Who Is Devin Vassell?

Devin Vassell is a guard for the San Antonio Spurs, where he has worn the number 24 since the club drafted him 11th overall in 2020. Born in Lawrenceville, Georgia, in 2000, he played his high school basketball at Peachtree Ridge and spent two seasons at Florida State, earning second-team All-ACC honours, before turning pro. His father, Andrew, played college basketball at Stony Brook and has Jamaican roots.

In 2023 he signed a five-year, $146 million extension, the biggest contract in Spurs history at the time. Last season ended with San Antonio's first NBA Finals since 2014. The Knicks took the series 4-1, but Vassell averaged 12.8 points across the five games, including a 12-point first quarter in Game 4.

What Did Devin Vassell Wear on Opening Night?

The Spurs opened their season at home to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday 20 October, and lost 116-104. Before tip-off, Vassell walked in wearing:

• A Bottega Veneta blouson jacket
• Printed black trousers
• A statement belt buckle
• A large duffel bag
• A gold cross necklace

The cross wasn't branded in the coverage, and we haven't seen it identified anywhere, so we won't guess at the maker. What we can say is how it worked: the jacket and the bag did the talking, and one piece of gold sat at the collar.

Look closely at the arrival photos and it doesn't read like a flat, plain pendant either. It looks closer to a rosary-style cross, with what appear to be coloured stones set into it. The write-up doesn't describe it in that much detail, so take that as our read of the pictures rather than a confirmed spec.

Why Did One Cross Stand Out?

Look at what was around him. Chrome Hearts, a label built on cross motifs, showed up on two pairs of teammates' trousers. There was an Enfants Riches Déprimés hoodie and a vintage Harley-Davidson tee too. So there were plenty of crosses in the tunnel, but most of them were printed or stitched onto clothes.

Vassell's was the one worn as jewellery, and that's why it registered. When a tunnel fit is busy with labels, a single gold piece reads as a choice rather than an accessory. It's also the piece most likely to still be in his rotation long after the jacket has been retired.

For many people, a cross is a statement of faith first. Vassell hasn't spoken publicly about what his means to him, so we'll leave that to him. For another cross worn on a big night, see our piece on Gunna's cross chain at the VMAs.

How Does Devin Vassell Dress Off the Court?

Vassell's interest in clothes goes further than tunnel photos. He runs his own clothing brand, Unrecognized to Unforgettable, and in 2024 he designed a ten-piece line with the Spurs that included a leather jacket limited to 124 pieces, a nod to his number. "Each piece blends my personal fashion flow with the team and city that has embraced me," he said at the launch.

His arrivals tend to follow a pattern: one strong outer layer over a clean base. Before a playoff game against the Timberwolves in May, it was a burgundy leather bomber over a white tee and white jeans. Before Game 1 of the Finals, he went for a silver 424 jacket with matching trousers and a black tank. Opening night followed the same formula, with the gold cross as the one addition.

How Do You Get Devin Vassell's Opening Night Look?

You don't need Bottega Veneta to borrow the idea. The formula is simple: a jacket with character, dark trousers and one gold piece at the neck.

Let the jacket lead

Pick one outer layer that does the heavy lifting, whether that's leather, suede or a bold blouson, and keep everything under it plain. A black or white tee gives the cross somewhere clean to sit. If the jacket has gold-toned zips or buttons, a gold chain ties the whole thing together, but silver hardware is no reason to switch metals. Mixing the two is fine.

Choose one gold cross

Go for a pendant with clean lines that reads from across a room. Our Cross in gold is bevelled and weighted to sit flat, the Rope Cross adds a twisted texture, and the Latin Cross has a longer, slimmer shape. If you're still working out which style of cross is right for you, our guide to the cross necklace and what it means walks through every type.

Try a rosary-style piece

If it's the rosary feel of Vassell's cross you're after, our Rosary Crucifix in gold strings polished clover beads with a detailed crucifix, so the beads do the job of the chain. For the beads without a pendant, the Rosary Chain in gold gives you the same feel in its simplest form.

Beads and a crucifix on one piece. Featured: the Rosary Crucifix in gold.

Bring in some stone colour

If the stones are what drew you to his cross, our Emerald Stone Cross sets rows of emerald-coloured stones in 18K gold bezels, with an open back that lets light through, and the Onyx Stone Cross does the same job in black. For more colour to work into your rotation, browse our gemstone jewellery.

Keep it to one chain

Only one necklace made the write-up, and that's the point. A 2mm Connell lets the cross do all the work, while a 4mm Cuban gives it a little more presence under an open jacket. Aim for a length that sits just below the collarbone, so the cross shows when the jacket is open.

One gold chain under a dark jacket. Featured: the Cuban chain in gold, 4mm.

Know when to stop

The hardest part of this look is restraint. With the jacket and the cross in place, keep the rest of your jewellery quiet. Vassell's teammates had the logos covered; his cross worked because it had the neckline to itself.

Devin Vassell's Necklace: FAQs

What necklace did Devin Vassell wear on opening night?

A gold cross necklace, worn with a Bottega Veneta blouson jacket when the Spurs opened their season against the Oklahoma City Thunder on 20 October 2026. The cross wasn't branded in the coverage, and who made it hasn't been reported.

What was Devin Vassell's full opening night outfit?

A Bottega Veneta blouson jacket, printed black trousers, a statement belt buckle, a large duffel bag and a gold cross necklace.

Does Devin Vassell have his own clothing brand?

Yes. He runs a clothing brand called Unrecognized to Unforgettable, and in 2024 he designed a ten-piece line with the Spurs that included a leather jacket limited to 124 pieces, a nod to his number 24.

What number does Devin Vassell wear?

He wears the number 24 for the San Antonio Spurs, who drafted him 11th overall in 2020.

Did the Spurs win on opening night?

No. The Oklahoma City Thunder won the season opener 116-104 at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio.

How can I recreate Devin Vassell's look?

Wear a jacket with real character over a plain tee and dark trousers, then add one gold cross on a fine or medium gold chain. Keep the rest of your jewellery quiet so the cross is the only thing at the neck.

One Piece, Done Properly

Vassell's opening night look is a reminder that the smallest thing in an outfit can be the part people remember. Browse our cross collection to find yours, or start with a chain from our men's gold chains and build from there.