2024-25 Spurs Player Reviews: Stephon Castle

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San Antonio’s second-straight Rookie of the Year solidified his spot in the long-term core.

Welcome to Pounding the Rock’s 2024-25 player reviews! The series will look at the players who finished the season with the San Antonio Spurs on guaranteed contracts and who played consequential minutes and/or a vital role (so no two-way players because we hardly saw them this year, and no players who were traded away).

Stephon Castle

2024-25 stats: 26.7 MPG, 14.7 points, 4.1 assists, 42.8 FG%, 28.5 3FG%

Contract Status: 3 years, $32.2 remaining (2-year team option)

Age: 20

The 2024 NBA Draft Class was dismissed as a weak crop of prospects. Time will tell if that’s accurate. It seems like the Spurs found a diamond in that rough. Stephon Castle won the 2024-25 Rookie of the Year and established himself as a key piece of San Antonio’s core moving forward. There was no better indication of how the organization feels about Castle than their insistence on keeping him out of the De’Aaron Fox trade. Castle is a key part of his future.

He backed it up with his play on the court. Castle didn’t always look like a rookie out there. He was the Spurs’ most physical downhill attacking presence. He was one of San Antonio’s more impactful defenders with his physicality at the point of attack. He showed flashes of making advanced reads with the ball in his hands and the ability to get buckets in the mid-range. Something should be said for his availability and willingness to play multiple roles. Castle appeared in 81 games and went back and forth between the starting lineup and a bench role.

Castle brings another mainstream face to the Spurs. The “Area 51” duo with Victor Wembanyama is an iconic nickname. He has the ROY clout, nearly won the NBA Dunk Contest, and put on a show in the Rising Stars tournament, carrying his team to an All-Star Game appearance. If he can continue to develop, the Spurs may have a real All-Star (no offense, Adam Silver) on their hands.

Looking ahead

Castle seems like he’s in for the long haul. San Antonio can build an elite defense built around Victor Wembanyama and Fox. Castle fits in seamlessly as a physical point of attack defender who can guard wings and ball-handlers. If his offense catches up, the Spurs could have a mostly homegrown “big three” on their hands.

Castle showed flashes of shot-making ability this season, but his jumper is far too inconsistent to be relied upon as a go-to scorer. No matter how strong a driver you are, teams can play you off the court if you’re not a threat to shoot, especially in a playoff setting. Castle’s ball handling could be tightened up to cut down on turnovers, especially if the Spurs want him to play on the ball more. His body control and strength will take him a long way offensively, but shooting and creativity can take him to another level.

This offseason will show exactly how the Spurs feel about Castle. If they are indeed players in the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes, Castle will likely be a big part of those conversations. Milwaukee would likely insist he is in the deal. If talks break down, because of that, it’s safe to call Castle untouchable. If that’s the case, San Antonio should look for ways to get Castle into the starting lineup next season, defining his role as a core part of their future.