Stephon Castle, Jalen Johnson Named NBA Players of the Week After Historic Performances
Week 16 of the NBA season brought out some of the best individual performances we’ve seen all year - and two rising stars stood above the rest. Spurs guard Stephon Castle and Hawks forward Jalen Johnson have been named the NBA’s Players of the Week for the Western and Eastern Conferences, respectively, after a dominant stretch of games from February 2 through February 8.
Let’s start in San Antonio, where Castle is continuing to build on what’s already been a sensational sophomore campaign. The reigning Rookie of the Year led the Spurs to a perfect 3-0 week, stuffing the stat sheet with averages of 24.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 3.0 steals and 1.0 block - and he did it all in just under 27 minutes per game.
Efficiency? He had that too, shooting a scorching 63% from the field, 36.4% from deep, and 76.9% from the line.
But the real headline came on Saturday night against Dallas. In a performance that immediately etched itself into NBA history, Castle exploded for a career-high 40 points on 15-of-19 shooting (that’s nearly 79% from the field), pulled down 12 rebounds, handed out 12 assists, and added three steals - all in just 32 minutes.
To put that into context: Castle became the youngest player in league history to post a 40-12-12 stat line, surpassing a record once held by Oscar Robertson. He also joined elite company as just the second player ever to notch a 40-point triple-double while shooting at least 75% from the field.
The only other name on that list? Wilt Chamberlain - and he did it three times.
And here’s the kicker: Castle’s career night came exactly one year after he dropped his previous high of 33 points. “I don’t know, something about this day,” Castle said postgame, smiling.
“Having a game like this, it’s definitely a dream come true. It felt good just to be out there feeling comfortable with every shot that I took and [got to] see them go in.”
Meanwhile in the East, Jalen Johnson is making his own kind of history in Atlanta. The fifth-year forward - and now 2026 All-Star - continued his breakout season by averaging 27.3 points, 12.0 rebounds, 11.3 assists, and 1.0 steal over three games, helping the Hawks to a 2-1 record. He shot 54.4% from the field, and while the three-point numbers weren’t eye-popping (29.4%), his overall impact was undeniable.
Johnson recorded two triple-doubles during the week, bringing his season total to 10 - the most in the Eastern Conference and second only to Nikola Jokic (18) across the entire league. That stat alone is wild, but here’s what really drives it home: No player in Hawks franchise history has ever recorded 10 triple-doubles in their entire career with the team. Johnson just did it in one season - and it’s only February.
This marks the second time Johnson has earned Player of the Week honors this season, having previously won the award back in November. With the way he’s playing, it might not be the last.
Other nominees for the weekly honors included some big names and rising stars. In the West, Trail Blazers teammates Donovan Clingan and Jerami Grant, Clippers veteran Kawhi Leonard, Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III, and Castle’s own teammate Victor Wembanyama were all in the mix. Over in the East, the field included Scottie Barnes (Raptors), Knicks duo Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, Sixers stars Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid, Donovan Mitchell (Cavaliers), and Ryan Rollins (Bucks).
But in a week full of standout performances, Castle and Johnson rose above - not just with their numbers, but with the kind of all-around impact that turns heads across the league. If this is what the future of the NBA looks like, fans have a lot to be excited about.