Stephon Castle’s name is already being tossed into some lofty territory, and ESPN’s Summer Forecast is the reason why. The network picked the Spurs guard to win Most Improved Player in 2026-27, a prediction that would push him into All-NBA conversation if it hits.
That kind of leap would not come from nowhere. Castle is already doing a lot of the hard stuff that winning guards have to do.
He’s one of the league’s better point-of-attack defenders, using his lateral quickness, screen navigation and physical style to make life miserable for opposing ballhandlers. Even elite scorers feel it, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander can attest.
Offensively, the numbers are already there in a big way. Castle averaged 17 points and 7 assists per game, showing he can score and run an offense at a high level.
The next step is trimming the mistakes, because the turnovers remain the clearest flaw in his profile. ESPN’s forecast said he needs to “correct the miscues,” and that’s hard to dispute with his turnover average sitting slightly above three per game.
The easiest path to a major jump is obvious: the jumper. Castle’s shot has been a clear offseason focus, and basketball trainer Olin Simplis said, “It’s been a lot of shooting... It’s been a lot of shooting focus, pace focus, shot-line pocket focus, off-the-dribble," when talking about the work they’ve been putting in.
There’s reason to believe the improvement can keep coming. Castle hit 33% from three last season, up from 29% the year before. If he climbs to even slightly above average from deep, defenses lose one of their easiest answers against him.
Right now, opponents are willing to go under screens and try to clog the lane, hoping to keep a powerful driver like Castle from getting downhill. That hasn’t stopped him from finding his way into the paint and making teams pay, but a stronger jump shot would force defenses into a tougher choice every trip down the floor.
Castle also gave a preview of what he can look like on a bigger stage during the 2026 NBA Playoffs, where he delivered several standout performances and played with no fear under pressure. If he does end up making the kind of leap ESPN is forecasting, it would mean San Antonio has added another elite piece to an already promising core.
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Julian Champagnie May Be More Important To The Spurs Than Fans Realize
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The next step is less about flash and more about tightening the edges of his game. Better shooting consistency, more physical play and stronger rebounding would make his minutes even harder to take away, especially with his fit alongside the teams key pieces already pointing in the right direction. If those pieces fall into place, Champagnie could move from useful to indispensable, which is exactly the kind of leap that can quietly reshape a rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Stephon Castle Is Earning Praise For What Could Set Him Apart
Stephon Castles second NBA season gave the Spurs more evidence that his value goes well beyond the box score. He finished the year averaging 16.7 points and 7.4 assists, but the attention around him has increasingly centered on what he can do on the other end, where his defensive versatility has already started to separate him from a lot of young guards.
Castles trainer, Olin Simplis, has been among the loudest voices pointing to that side of his game, praising his ability to handle multiple positions and turn defense into a calling card. It is the kind of trait that can make a player stand out in a league filled with scorers, and it helps explain why some around the Spurs see a different kind of ceiling for Castle even as comparisons to bigger-name wings continue to swirl. [Read more 🡒]
Carter Bryant Has One Big Step Left In Spurs Core Build
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The bigger question is how far Bryant can go on the other end. His development as a three-point shooter and a more reliable scorer will go a long way toward determining whether he becomes a useful stopper or a true two-way difference-maker, and for a Spurs team still building toward title-level expectations, that kind of offensive jump could end up being the final piece they are waiting on. [Read more 🡒]