Spurs draft pick Stephon Castle speaks to the media Saturday at the Victory Capital Performance Center Saturday morning.
Robin Jerstad/San Antonio Express-News
Stephon Castle learned the benefits of teaming with a 7-footer in his one season with the UConn men’s basketball program.
The experience with 7-foot-2 Donovan Clingan in college will serve him well as he embarks on an NBA career. Castle, the fourth overall pick in last week’s NBA Draft, is joining the San Antonio Spurs.
The star of the Spurs: 7-4 Victor Wembanyama, the NBA’s reigning rookie of the year.
“He’s a really big target,” Castle said at his introductory press conference in San Antonio Saturday. “ It was fun throwing lobs to DC, so I can only imagine what it will be like.”
The Spurs, who won five NBA titles from 1999 to 2014, are in rebuilding mode after consecutive 22-60 seasons. The poor record netted two high draft picks: Wembanyama at No. 1 in 2023 and Castle last week.
Castle played off the ball with Tristen Newton running the point at UConn, but he has expressed a desire to be more of a playmaker in the NBA. So visions of lobs to Wembanyama are not out of reach.
Asked when he became aware of Wembanyama, Castle said he recalls seeing the big man “doing some crazy stuff” when he was still a teenage sensation in France. Now he’s 20 and he’ll be joined by the 19-year-old Castle.
Robin Jerstad/San Antonio Express-News
“The thought of playing with him, of course it circulates in your mind,” said Castle, who will wear No. 5 with the Spurs. “But it doesn’t feel real until it becomes reality.”
Castle added, “Just to know that’s going to be my future teammate now … I’m just really excited for what our future looks like.”
Beyond the offensive potential, Castle is also excited by the prospect of playing defense with an athletic, 7-4 figure behind him. Castle’s defense may well be his trait that translates best and seamlessly to the NBA game.
His perimeter defense in particular was stellar throughout his freshman season. Castle said his point of attack defense was especially good because he had Clingan, an elite shot-blocker, behind him.
Yes, it’ll be the same shot-blocking wall providing cover at the next level.
“You saw how great it was when I had DC behind me,” Castle said. “I can only imagine what it will be like to have probably the best shot-blocker in the league behind me now.”
More similarities between Castle’s college and NBA life: Dan Hurley and Gregg Popovich.
Hurley is perhaps the most dynamic coach at any level in the country these days — NBA, college, high school, middle school, AAU, rec leagues, everywhere. With two NCAA titles, interest from the Los Angeles Lakers, and another decade ahead of him, Hurley is marching steadily toward a seat in Springfield’s Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame.
Robin Jerstad/San Antonio Express-News
Popovich is already there. He is one of the great coaching minds in NBA history, a guy whose peers such as Geno Auriemma seek for advice.
“Just the thought of playing for coach Pop … it really doesn’t feel real,” Castle said. “Coming from probably the best college basketball coach to now going to a coach like Coach Pop, a legendary coach like that, I feel like its the perfect situation. I feel like this is the position any basketball player would want to be in, playing for two high-level coaches like that.”
Castle said he developed as a player under Hurley. He comes to the league as a sound, all-around player with a high basketball IQ and room for grown.
He was asked what he’ll bring to his new team.
“Just with my versatility, I feel like I’m a perfect fit here, he said. “Being able to display my playmaking ability, being able to create shots for myself, my teammates. Being at UConn, becoming a better screener, becoming a better cutter, just really balancing my all-around game. Just being on the court, trying to do everything that I can, rebound, push … using my defense as an advantage for our team. Really, just trying to do everything on the court to help us win.”
His weakness, of course, was his outside shooting. He shot just 26.7 percent from 3-point range, but his 6-6 frame combined with his quickness should enable him to get his shot off in the NBA.
And given his age and experience, it’s reasonable to expect improvement.
“I feel like just with all the shooters that we did have on our team, I feel like my ability to shoot, it was kind of overlooked a little bit by our coaches,” Castle said. “For the right reasons. We had two 40 percent (3-point) shooters on our team, so to get them the ball was really a no-brainer. But I have a lot of confidence in my shot. I’ve put a lot of work in.”
