The San Antonio Spurs are off to a torrid 8-2 start and have superstar Victor Wembanyama to thank, especially after what he did to the Chicago Bulls. But Stephon Castle also deserves a lot of praise. The reigning Rookie of the Year is averaging 18.3 points on 48.4% shooting, along with 5.7 rebounds, 7.8 assists and 2 steals, filling up the stat sheet.
That’s a heck of a stat for a second-year player, with Castle suddenly taking a huge leap forward when the Spurs need it most. No De’Aaron Fox, no Jeremy Sochan, no Luke Kornet, it didn’t matter, San Antonio continued to roll with Castle and Wembanyama leading the way.
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson praised Castle for his versatility.
“It’s going to be a great opportunity for his versatility… He can impact winning, whether he’s on the ball, off the ball, defensively. He’s going to guard a ton of different profiles in terms of top players on teams. He has the opportunity to impact the game as much as anyone,” » said Mitch Johnson.
Stephon Castle gives Spurs the ultimate Swiss army knife
It’s one thing to be a jack-of-all-trades on offense, but being able to effectively defend multiple positions makes him all the more valuable. Enjoying the Phoenix Suns game, he spent much of his time guarding Devin Booker and provided physical defense that kept him from getting out.
He was also tasked with guarding Cooper Flagg and Luka Doncic, and more than held his own. Castle’s ability to guard one through three makes him an invaluable piece.
Even if his shot doesn’t fall, he can still impact the game. In fact, most recently, he totaled 27 assists in back-to-back games against the Houston Rockets and New Orleans Pelicans, even though he hasn’t shot particularly well from the field.
However, when he is on the line, he is a game changer for Spurs. He carried the Spurs offensively against the Suns, with Wembanyama missing in action. Castle also played a big role in the team’s last game against the Bulls.
He helped shut down Chicago in the fourth quarter while exhilarating his teammates during the Spurs’ comeback. His 11 assists and 1 turnover are a clear sign that he is learning the intricacies of shot creation, even while sharing the ball with Fox.
His ability to make free throws gives him an offensive foundation, scoring at least 13 points in each of the team’s first 10 games.
Even Wembanyama didn’t do it. And when Castle can hit threes or mix a few pull-ups into his regimen of pushing to the rim, he can be a nightmare to stop.
The Spurs haven’t had a player like Stephon Castle in years
His budding ability as a playmaker has added another facet to his game and made him a more complete player. De’Aaron Fox will likely do most of the ball-handling when the two share the floor together.
Fortunately, Castle getting eight games to experiment with the point rush should make him a much better shooting guard who can serve as a secondary playmaker. That means he can play alongside Fox or Dylan Harper and has enough size to play in three-on-three guard lineups.
This would give San Antonio three talented playmakers, allowing them to play fast and put pressure on the defense with multiple slashers. As crazy as it sounds, the Spurs haven’t had a player like Castle since Manu Ginobili.
All told, Castle’s versatility has been a boon for the Spurs, with him being the key to their strong start. If Castle is already this good and can refine his shooting and reduce turnovers, he will soon give the Spurs their third star.
