Stephon Castle Embracing the Challenge as Spurs Surge in the West
"I take a lot of pride in that... I ask for those matchups. I wouldn't want it any other way. I feel like I can be one of the best perimeter defenders in the league."
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 14, 2026
Stephon Castle on what it’s like defending Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic 🗣️pic.twitter.com/JgigTeCfxW
Stephon Castle isn’t shying away from the spotlight - he’s asking for it.
The San Antonio Spurs’ rising star has taken on some of the NBA’s toughest defensive assignments this season, including matchups against All-Stars Luka Dončić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. For most rookies or even second-year guards, that’s a tall order.
But Castle is built differently. He’s not just accepting the challenge - he’s chasing it.
“I take a lot of pride in that. I ask for those matchups,” Castle said recently.
“I wouldn’t want it any other way. I feel like I can be one of the best perimeter defenders in the league.
Day in and day out, I’m just trying to prove that.”
And so far? He’s backing it up.
Castle’s defensive presence was a key factor in the Spurs sweeping the Oklahoma City Thunder in three games over a 12-day stretch in December - including a dominant Christmas Day victory. Gilgeous-Alexander, one of the league’s most efficient scorers, was held to just 22 points on 7-of-19 shooting in that holiday matchup.
That’s no easy feat, especially against a player known for surgical precision in the midrange and getting to the line. But Castle made life uncomfortable for him all night.
It’s not just the defense, though. Castle’s two-way game is what’s turning heads around the league. He’s stuffing the stat sheet with the kind of all-around production that suggests he’s not just a promising young player - he’s already becoming a problem for opponents.
Take the Spurs' win over the Dallas Mavericks, for example. Castle didn’t just show up - he made NBA history.
In a 138-125 victory, he became the youngest player ever to record a 40-point triple-double with at least 12 assists and 12 rebounds. Add three steals and a block to that line, and you start to see the full picture: this is a guard who’s not just playing both ends - he’s dominating both ends.
That performance didn’t go unnoticed. With Stephen Curry sidelined due to a knee injury ahead of the NBA’s All-Star Weekend, Spurs veteran Harrison Barnes made a strong case for Castle to get the nod as a replacement. Barnes also threw support behind Castle’s backcourt running mate, De’Aaron Fox.
“It would be criminal if him and Fox didn’t get a look. We’re No. 2 in the West,” Barnes said. “I think for what we’ve done, for the teams that are below us that had two All-Stars, I don’t know a case - if we’re talking about impact on winning and playing high-level basketball - why either of them shouldn’t be selected and/or highly under consideration for those spots.”
Barnes has a point. The Spurs have been one of the West’s most consistent teams this season, and Castle’s emergence is a big reason why.
He’s not just putting up numbers - he’s impacting winning. Whether it’s locking up elite scorers or orchestrating the offense with poise beyond his years, Castle is showing he belongs in the conversation with the league’s best young guards.
Harrison Barnes advocated that at least one of his two Spurs teammates should have been named an All-Star alternate for Steph Curry:
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 11, 2026
"It'd be criminal if [Stephon Castle] and [De'Aaron] Fox didn't get a look. ... For what we've done, for the teams that have been below us that… pic.twitter.com/Xjf3Fk9uz0
Ultimately, the NBA chose Toronto’s Brandon Ingram to replace Curry, while Fox will step in for Giannis Antetokounmpo on Sunday. But Castle’s name is now firmly in the mix - and if he keeps playing like this, it won’t be long before he’s not just considered for All-Star spots. He’ll be earning them.
For now, Castle remains focused on the task at hand: guarding the league’s best, leading the Spurs, and proving - night in and night out - that he’s ready for the big stage.