Spurs rookie Stephon Castle turns heads with strong Summer League showing
By Cal Durrett
The NBA Summer League gives fans an early look at each team's newest players and San Antonio Spurs fans were undoubtedly clamoring for a look at fourth overall pick Stephon Castle. Although Castle was limited to just three Summer League games, his play was encouraging, to say the least, after averaging 17 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal per game
Castle was viewed as a wing after playing more off-ball at Connecticut due to his elite defense but he seemed to be insistent that he be drafted by a team without a long-term option at point guard. While he probably won't play point guard next season for the Spurs, he showed enough in Summer League to prove that he can.
Have been so impressed by Stephon Castle’s floor game throughout Summer League. The shot making will undoubtedly be a WIP, but my goodness his ability to play with the ball in his hands is so obvious. Plays P&R with such maturity. The little nuances in his set-ups, using… pic.twitter.com/wAicSgbeNM
— NBA Draft Dude 🤙 (@CoreyTulaba) July 14, 2024
Castle looked comfortable playing with the ball in his hands and his methodical shot creation in the pick and roll drew some comparisons to 2021 number one overall pick Cade Cunningham. Those skills didn't come out of nowhere, with him exhibiting flashes of play making at UConn and he was a point guard in high school, giving him experience at the position.
And I don’t mean this in the way we think about that phrase. I mean it in the pace that Castle operates and the way that he plays into space to generate offense both for himself and as a playmaker.
— NBA Draft Dude 🤙 (@CoreyTulaba) May 24, 2024
Castle comes off screens tight, uses body positioning and footwork, and plays… pic.twitter.com/eWM0IzhfXe
Stephon Castle being able to play point guard would be a game-changer for the San Antonio Spurs.
The biggest knock against Castle during the draft process was his jump shot, with NBA analyst Nate Duncan of the Dunc'd On Podcast even calling it "as broken as it could possibly be." That might still be true, but if he can eventually become a primary ball-handler, then teams couldn't leave him wide open, and he has shown more promise as a mid-range shooter.
The Spurs have a history of turning shaky point guard prospects into mid-range threats, with Tony Parker, Cory Joseph, and Dejounte Murray all being case-and-point. That would dramatically improve his ceiling, as would his ability to knock down open threes and he'll have at least a year to work on that aspect of his game with Chris Paul and Tre Jones at point guard season.
After next season, Castle may assume the play-making responsibilities, with him being able to effectively create in the pick and roll and the Spurs being able to add another shooter to the starting five. If that were to happen, then San Antonio may have found a worthwhile prospect at four.
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