Spurs’ Stephon Castle Explains Defensive Success Against NBA Star
Stephon Castle has quickly transitioned into a high-pressure role, exceeding the already lofty expectations placed on him before the season. Initially projected as the top perimeter defender in the 2024 NBA Draft, he has far surpassed those predictions. With De’Aaron Fox and Victor Wembanyama out for the season and Jeremy Sochan shifting to a sixth-man role, Castle has stepped up as San Antonio’s primary defensive stopper. While he was expected to gradually develop alongside Wembanyama, the rookie has proven he can handle the responsibility on his own.
During Tuesday’s game against the Orlando Magic, the Spurs suffered a loss, with Castle contributing 16 points and committing seven turnovers. However, his defensive performance stood out, particularly against Franz Wagner. Despite Wagner’s four-inch height advantage, Castle has consistently made things difficult for him. Over 14 minutes as Wagner’s primary defender, Castle limited him to just 11 points on 4-of-17 shooting (22.2% from three), significantly below his season averages of 46.2% from the field and 29% from beyond the arc.
Following the game, Castle explained his defensive approach against bigger opponents. “One-on-one, I feel like I did a pretty good job,” he said about guarding Wagner. “He got a couple of catch-and-shoots early, but when you have a team that can load up and shift heavily, it makes things easier. It’s all about playing the numbers—guys are going to have good shooting nights.”
Castle will likely be called upon for another strong defensive showing on Wednesday when the Spurs face the Denver Nuggets.
