Stephon Castle Is Doing It All-And the Spurs Know It
Stephon Castle’s rookie season was impressive enough to earn him Rookie of the Year honors. But year two? He’s taken it up another level-and the San Antonio Spurs are reaping the rewards.
Just ask Victor Wembanyama, who sees Castle’s impact every night.
“That’s his worth. That he can shut down guys,” Wembanyama said after the Spurs’ 111-99 win over the Houston Rockets-a game where Castle didn’t just show up, he took over.
Defensively, he was tasked with guarding Houston’s top weapons. Offensively, he filled the box score.
The result? A statement win and another reminder that the Spurs may have struck gold in back-to-back drafts.
“Having a guy so good on both sides of the floor is just amazing,” Wembanyama added. “Every game, I’m so glad we got him in the draft. It’s amazing.”
“That’s his worth…
— Hector Ledesma (@HectorLedesmaTV) January 29, 2026
It’s just amazing
Every game I’m so glad we got him in the draft…” ⬇️
-Victor Wembanyama on Stephon Castle after Steph put up 16, 6(a), 5(r), 2 steals while guarding Durant & Sengun in a 4th that led to a 111-99 #Spurs win in Houston#PorVida #GoSpursGo pic.twitter.com/paLmQoxL51
Castle’s stat line tells part of the story: 16 points, six assists, five rebounds, and two steals. But it’s the context that matters.
In the fourth quarter-when games are decided-Castle was matched up with Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun. Both are 6-foot-11.
Castle stands at 6-foot-6. You’d think that would be a mismatch.
It wasn’t.
Durant’s a perimeter assassin. Sengun does his damage closer to the rim.
Castle handled both-bothering Durant on the wing, bodying up Sengun near the paint. It didn’t matter that they had the size advantage.
Castle had the footwork, the anticipation, and the grit. He made life difficult for both, and in doing so, helped the Spurs slam the door shut in the final frame.
“I try to hang my hat on that end,” Castle said postgame. “So any challenges that the coaches give me on that end, I accept it.”
That mindset is exactly what makes Castle such a valuable piece in San Antonio’s puzzle. He’s not just a scorer or a playmaker-he’s a tone-setter. And he knows it’s not just about individual effort.
“We had great communication behind me when I was guarding those guys,” Castle said. “So I was able to get a few stops in the fourth.”
The Spurs held the Rockets to just 13 points in that decisive quarter. When Wembanyama heard that number, he couldn’t help but smile.
“They’re never going to end with 52 points,” he said, referencing Houston’s second-half total. “But it’s the goal to get closer and closer to that. And also, to reduce their best stints.”
That’s where Castle’s value shines brightest. He’s the guy you trust to take on the toughest assignment, to disrupt rhythm, to make stars uncomfortable. And he’s doing it while contributing across the board offensively.
For Castle, it’s simple: defend, communicate, do the little things-and the wins will follow.
“I feel like if we do those things, the little things, we’re going to win the majority of the games that we play in,” Castle said.
And when they don’t?
“We’re not coming out of games confused on why we lost. We know exactly why,” he added. “So, fixing up those things-it feels good when you do it the right way and come out with a win.”
Castle’s already shown he belongs in the league. Now, he’s showing he can help lead a team. And in San Antonio, that’s a very big deal.