Stephon Castle may be navigating through a bit of a sophomore slump right now, but don’t mistake that for a ceiling on his potential. The 21-year-old guard is still flashing the explosiveness and flair that made him a Slam Dunk Contest participant in his rookie year - and on Tuesday night against the Rockets, he reminded everyone why he's one of the most electric young players in the league.
Midway through the third quarter, with the Spurs holding a lead they’d maintained for most of the night, Castle made a play that turned heads. Houston was trying to get the ball to Amen Thompson, but Castle read the pass from Kevin Durant like a seasoned vet, jumped the lane, and tipped it loose. From there, it was off to the races.
Castle leaked out in transition, and with Josh Okogie chasing him down, most players might’ve gone for a safe layup or a basic two-hander. Not Castle. He took flight and uncorked a vicious windmill slam - the kind of dunk that makes you pause and ask, “Did he really just do that… in a game?”
Okogie did what defenders often do in that helpless moment - he fouled him. But it didn’t stop the highlight. Castle powered through the contact and still threw it down, earning the and-one on a dunk that’s already making the rounds on every social media feed you can find.
At that point in the game, Castle had already put together a well-rounded stat line: 13 points, six boards, and eight assists. More importantly, he was helping the Spurs hold onto an eight-point lead early in the fourth - a game they’d controlled for much of the night.
Now, Castle’s recent stretch hasn’t been without its bumps. Defenses are keying in on him more, testing how he responds to added pressure and attention.
That’s part of the growth curve for any young guard with big expectations. But what you saw Tuesday night wasn’t just a dunk - it was a reminder of the raw talent, confidence, and swagger that makes Castle such an intriguing piece of San Antonio’s future.
Spurs fans have seen their fair share of high-flyers over the years, but Castle’s windmill jam is already being talked about as one of the best in franchise memory. Social media lit up immediately after the play:
“That…might be the most insane Spurs dunk I’ve seen in my 30 years. With the and-1??? 😱,” one fan posted.
“Stephon Castle might be the first player in NBA history to get an and-one on a windmill!!” another added.
STEPHON CASTLE WITH THE AND-1 WINDMILL DUNK 🔃💥
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 21, 2026
What a finish by the Spurs star!pic.twitter.com/yTc40Act2F
“STEPHON CASTLE WITH THE HUGE WINDMILL DUNK 😳 WE NEED HIM BACK IN THE DUNK CONTEST,” a third chimed in.
Castle may still be figuring out how to navigate the nightly grind of NBA defenses, but plays like this show why the Spurs - and their fans - are so high on his upside. He’s not just a dunk contest guy. He’s a playmaker, a competitor, and a player who, even in the middle of a slump, can light up the court with a moment that reminds everyone just how high his ceiling really is.