Stephon Castle seemed to take the games between the San Antonio Spurs and Memphis Grizzlies personally, and with good reason. Grizzlies rookies Zach Edey and Jaylen Wells have received more Rookie of the Year recognition than they deserve, while Castle is currently the frontrunner for the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy.
Furthermore, Edey’s Purdue Boilermakers faced Castle’s UConn Huskies in the NCAA Tournament title last season, and the rivalry continues. Castle led the Spurs to a 130-128 victory over the Grizzlies on Saturday, scoring 24 points and dishing out seven assists before colliding with Edey and manhandling the 7-4 center. Castle has played some of his finest basketball in his four games against Memphis this season, averaging 22.8 points and five assists per game.
Castle appears to have broken out of a small funk he was in following the All-Star Break, and interim head coach Mitch Johnson attributes his recent success to playing more freely. “I think he’s just back to being that unapologetically aggressive, relentless kid that we have come to love,” according to Johnson. “I think he’s been thinking a lot, I think he’s been a little tired, I think he’s been a little overcoached, and it’s been nice to just see him playing hard, trusting his instincts.”
While there have been some growing pains, such as his terrible long-range shooting, Castle appears to be a physical guard capable of winning on both ends of the court.
At only 20 years old, he is a mostly complete prospect who, along with De’Aaron Fox and Victor Wembanyama, is anticipated to form an outstanding core in the future.
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