Coach Mitch Johnson ensured that Stephon Castle had the opportunity to notch his fourth triple-double of the season during Saturday’s commanding victory over Milwaukee. With the Spurs comfortably ahead by 32 points midway through the fourth quarter, Johnson noticed Castle was just one rebound shy of the milestone.
Castle was subbed back in, and it took him a mere 24 seconds to secure the elusive board. After completing his stat line with 22 points and 10 assists in just 29 minutes, he was promptly pulled from the game.
Castle acknowledged, “I knew I needed one more before I got subbed out, so coach put me back in there.” The coaching staff has been pushing Castle to enhance his rebounding skills, aiming to add another layer to his already impressive game. He’s currently averaging 5.1 rebounds per game, a significant improvement from his rookie season’s 3.7.
“If I can help our bigs rebound and start our break and keep our pace up, then I feel like it’s a plus,” Castle added, highlighting the strategic importance of his development.
In other Spurs news, Keldon Johnson contributed 16 points, marking his 50th double-digit scoring game off the bench this season. This achievement makes him the only player in franchise history to reach such a milestone, having done so last season as well. Johnson, a strong contender for Sixth Man of the Year, also matched a season-high with five assists during the game.
Meanwhile, De’Aaron Fox and Luke Kornet made their return after missing the previous game against Memphis due to minor injuries. Both logged 21 minutes against Milwaukee, with Fox contributing 12 points and six assists, while Kornet added two points, one rebound, and a steal to the effort.
Victor Wembanyama is proving true to his word following his team’s silver medal finish at the 2024 Summer Olympics. He had warned the basketball world that he was learning and that opponents should be wary in the coming years. Wembanyama is certainly delivering on that promise this season, putting together performances worthy of MVP consideration and making a strong case for the award.