In his preseason debut against the Thunder, Stephon Castle had more turnovers (6) than points (5) which left Spurs fans with mixed reactions. However, those doubts were short lived in the following game against the Orlando Magic as Stephon Castle led the Spurs with 17 points, alongside four assists and two steals. Castle’s performance highlighted his improved offensive capabilities and progression as an elite defensive playmaker on the court.
Following the game, there was mention of praise from Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, focusing on Castle's defensive mentality, which has been aggressive and promising. Castle appears to be on an upward trajectory. His ability to perform under pressure, as seen against Orlando, suggests a bright future where he could become a key rotational player or potential starter for the Spurs, stepping into a cemented role as he gains more experience in the NBA.
As Coach Pop continues to experiment with the starting lineup in the preseason, I predict Stephon Castle will get the start against Lauri Markkanen and the Utah Jazz. The Jazz might challenge Castle defensively. If he's tasked with guarding more experienced or quicker guards like Colin Sexton or Jordan Clarkson, his defensive performance could be a point of interest. His reputation for hustle and defensive intensity might shine, especially in league where defense is no longer of a point of emphasis for certain players.
That's why Stephon Castle is not the Fresh Prince (that title belongs to Will Smith), nor the heir to the throne. You can call Stephon:
The New King Of The Castle.
KDot’s Predictions
Spurs - Wemby, CP3, Sochan, Castle, Barnes
Jazz - Markkanen, Hendricks, Sexton, George, Kessler
Spurs 105- Jazz 102
New King Of The Castle