Stephon Castle is already in the mix with the NBA’s better shooting guards, and the Spurs may be setting him up to climb even higher.
HoopsHype’s latest ranking slotted Castle sixth among shooting guards, behind Anthony Edwards, Donovan Mitchell, Devin Booker, Amen Thompson and Austin Reaves, but ahead of Kon Knueppel, VJ Edgecombe, Derrick White and Tyler Herro. For a player heading into his third season, that’s a strong place to start. The bigger question is how he turns that into something even more convincing.
One path is already taking shape: more work away from the ball. If that’s where Castle spends more of his time this season, it could help sharpen the two areas that still need the most polish - his shooting and his turnover issues - while letting the rest of his game breathe.
Castle’s rise as a creator has been real. He was a point guard in high school, then spent more time off the ball in college, where he fit comfortably.
But during the draft process, he kept insisting he could run an offense. That wasn’t empty talk.
As a rookie, he handled plenty of ball duties with Chris Paul around to help him adjust to the league. By his second season, his assist total jumped to more than seven per game, good for 10th in the NBA.
The downside was just as clear: he also finished with more than three turnovers a night.
Those turnovers are one of the two main flaws in his game, and the other is shooting inconsistency. Both can be softened if he’s asked to attack from a different spot on the floor.
That’s where the Spurs’ roster construction matters. De’Aaron Fox is still the veteran lead guard, and he’s the one who looks most natural as the primary ball handler.
Mitch Johnson had good reason to lean on Castle last season, especially since Fox didn’t get a real offseason with the team. That’s changed now, with Fox already working out with the group this summer and set to have a full training camp if things stay on track.
If Johnson shifts the offense toward Fox, Castle can slide back into a role more familiar to him - the kind he had when he helped his college team win a title. And Dylan Harper doesn’t change that equation.
The 2025 second overall pick is already a dangerous scorer, but his passing still has room to grow. It would fit the Spurs’ approach to give Harper more on-ball responsibility too, both because he can score and because it would help his playmaking develop.
Castle has also been in the gym working on his shot, and that matters. A stronger catch-and-shoot game would make him more dangerous in an off-ball role and could force defenses to close out harder.
Once that happens, his athleticism becomes a bigger problem. He can put pressure on the paint, and if defenders start lunging at pump fakes, he can blow by them and get to the rim.
That’s when the whole thing starts to click. Improved shooting pulls defenders out, his burst punishes the closeout, and his passing can make the scramble even worse for opponents.
If that comes together, the Spurs won’t just have a useful wing. They’ll have another hard-to-contain weapon.
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Stephon Castle Is Giving The Spurs A Second All-Star Dream
Stephon Castle has already pushed himself into the center of the Spurs future plans after two strong NBA seasons and a notable run in the 2026 playoffs. For a team that has been building around its young core, Castles rise has been one of the clearest signs that San Antonio may not have to wait long for another genuine centerpiece to emerge.
Richard Jefferson recently pointed to the next step as the one that could really change the conversation, suggesting Castle is positioned for a larger role and more confidence going forward. Coming off a second season in which he averaged 16.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 7.4 assists, Castle is no longer just a promising piece for the Spurs - he is starting to look like the kind of player who could force an All-Star debate as soon as next season. [Read more 🡒]
Tony Parker Just Put Real Pressure On Victor Wembanyama And Spurs
Victor Wembanyamas ascent already has the Spurs talking like a contender, and Tony Parker is adding a little more fuel to the expectations. The former San Antonio star recently backed Wembanyamas future in a big way, pointing to the young centers ability to anchor a championship run while the Spurs keep reshaping the roster around him with additions like DeAaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper and Tobias Harris.
That kind of confidence comes with a hefty standard attached, especially after Wembanyamas breakout season, when he put up eye-catching numbers across the board and helped push San Antonio all the way to the NBA Finals. Parker also sees the pressure extending beyond the Spurs, with Wembanyama positioned as the kind of player who could lead France to the top of the international game, which only raises the stakes for what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Wembanyama Gave Spurs Fans One More Reason To Be Excited And Concerned
Victor Wembanyama wrapped up his stint with the French national team by helping Team France to an 84-69 win over Team Sweden in the FIBA qualifiers, a performance that gave Spurs fans plenty to enjoy. The 7-foot-4 centerpiece was active on both ends, showing the kind of inside presence and overall influence that makes him such a unique force as he heads toward the upcoming NBA season.
There was still a familiar wrinkle attached to the outing, though, as his free throw shooting remains something to watch. For San Antonio, that blend of dominance and unfinished polish is part of the Wembanyama experience, and it leaves the next stage of his development feeling both encouraging and a little bit unresolved. [Read more 🡒]