Stephon Castle: Future Elite Role Player or Future Star

[dn0774]

Weird opinion, seeing how even with that (I don't know if it's really all that) average first step, he can get to the rim at will.

Players like Luka have shown us that you don't need to be the fastest guy out there, if you have the skills and the IQ, you can get to the rim at will.

Luka can shoot lights out and has to be defended as such. If Castle gains respect as a shooter he will get by more people off the dribble and the point would be moot. Harden is another guy who seemed quicker than he actually was due to his shooting ability and how close he had to be guarded.

Castles drives are most often going into people or with the defender at his hip as opposed to getting actual separation off the dribble ala Fox or Maxey types. Castle does get a nice free throw volume out of his drives due in part to the defender staying with him. Most of Castles blow bys happen against bigs who get mismatched onto him, rarely have I seen it against a defending guard or wing.

A clear blow by is just often more valuable because it usually results in a big having to step up to contest which creates offensive advantages. Tony Parker owes most of his career’s success to his first step. Castle being bigger than the other pg’s I mentioned can change the equation a bit, I just think his ability to separate with his first step is average. Pre-draft assessments of him often mentioned it as well.

[Uriel]

Bump.

Seen how his shot is starting to slowly come around mid-season, I am far more bullish on Castle's prospects now than I were at start of the season. I firmly believe we may have drafted the best overall player in the draft with the fourth pick (it is gonna come down to him or Risacher eventually)

After watching glimpses of his 'player package', Stephon passes the eye test with flying colors: youngin' fearlessness, veteran-like poise and maturity on court. Just that unquantifiable It factor about him we all saw in rookie Kawhi before he went rogue. But, unlike Leonard, Castle's presser soundbites alone screams a future team leader/Alpha and should Wemby recoil from assuming such role..

Tentative Career Projection for Castle as of Feb 2025.

High-end Ceiling (20%) : Second-tier star in the mold of Jimmy Butler
Middle-end Ceiling (50%): 2nd/3rd banana in the mold Middleton or Jrue-Holiday
Low-end Ceiling (30%): Elite Role in the in the mold of Celtics' Derrick White

His low end is Derrick White? Damn

[Uriel]

Let’s recall that even Keldon Johnson in his sop re season at times looked better than Kawhi in his sop re season. For the record, I think Castle has a higher ceiling than Johnson, I’m just saying that we shouldn’t get way too ahead of ourselves

[John B]

He's better than rookie and Sop re Kawhi tbh.

Agree. Kawhi was timid and had to be constantly coaxed to believe in himself. Castle is oozing with confidence. Kawhi though was freakishly strong with LeBron shaking his head type when Kawhi was on him. But I see the same smothering defense. We got ourselves a true Alpha - I like the Wade comp

[John B]

His low end is Derrick White? Damn

We always knew Derrick was skilled, but his problem was tooo nice he gets bullied off starting line-up by DJ. It took awhile for Derrick to believe in himself and get his own. No problem with Castle believing in himself. The kid is a natural Alpha.

[LeBowen]

Those Jimmy/Jrue hybrid comps are holding up well.
He's been on a tear since Spurs came back from Paris, idk who gets benched, Castle must start.
We're not getting anywhere this season and his development needs to be the #2 priority after Wemby's.

He's averaging 4.5 FTA when he plays more than 25 minutes, 5 FTA when he plays more than 30. That's with a rookie whistle and often being ed over by the refs.
It's an invaluable skill to have, puts so much pressure on the opposition.

In 8 games since Spurs got back from Paris he's at 14-33 from 3pt, 41%.
Another unexpected development, he's way ahead of where even the biggest optimists thought he'd be.
And it's not random because he was at 70% from FT in his first 30 games, 76% over the next 20.
The next thing I'd like to see is a reliable pull-up from around the FT line, that would already make him a great offensive weapon. No doubt that he'll get there.

I was really high on him, but I didn't expect he'd be so good offensively in his rookie season.
If he continues on this trajectory, will easily be a 20/5/5 guy with great point of attack defense as soon as the next season.

[Strategic]

I think Castle’s game is being pushed by the losing. He’s not gonna take losing sitting down. Until he gets benched, that is.

[spursparker9]

I see Wade/Rose hybrid

[Dejounte]

With his improved shooting, it sounds like more and more he could be played with a non volume shooter like Sochan tbh

[exstatic]

Luka can shoot lights out and has to be defended as such. If Castle gains respect as a shooter he will get by more people off the dribble and the point would be moot. Harden is another guy who seemed quicker than he actually was due to his shooting ability and how close he had to be guarded.

Castles drives are most often going into people or with the defender at his hip as opposed to getting actual separation off the dribble ala Fox or Maxey types. Castle does get a nice free throw volume out of his drives due in part to the defender staying with him. Most of Castles blow bys happen against bigs who get mismatched onto him, rarely have I seen it against a defending guard or wing.

A clear blow by is just often more valuable because it usually results in a big having to step up to contest which creates offensive advantages. Tony Parker owes most of his career’s success to his first step. Castle being bigger than the other pg’s I mentioned can change the equation a bit, I just think his ability to separate with his first step is average. Pre-draft assessments of him often mentioned it as well.

Luka’s rookie and sop re numbers were 33 and 32%, and his career mark is a shade under 35%. He is not and has never been a lights out 3 pt. shooter. Barely league average.

[exstatic]

Weird opinion, seeing how even with that (I don't know if it's really all that) average first step, he can get to the rim at will.

Players like Luka have shown us that you don't need to be the fastest guy out there, if you have the skills and the IQ, you can get to the rim at will.

Not to mention SGA. There’s a reason those comps exist. Big physical guards that both navigate the paint effectively without being super quick or fast.

[cutewizard]

Castle and Sochan are developing some good court chemistry lately

[mystargtr34]

I do see a little bit of Wade but Castle is not as explosive off the dribble but he’s bigger and stronger.

I see Jimmy Butler and I also see some young Brandon Roy.

[Mugen]

Castle with a non-rookie whistle is gonna feed families tbh. That Jimmy Butler trajectory looks to be apt.

[cd98]

Castle is a role player right now, but if he shoots 37% from the field, he can be a star because he does everything else well.

[RC_Drunkford]

Those Jimmy/Jrue hybrid comps are holding up well.
He's been on a tear since Spurs came back from Paris, idk who gets benched, Castle must start.
We're not getting anywhere this season and his development needs to be the #2 priority after Wemby's.

He's averaging 4.5 FTA when he plays more than 25 minutes, 5 FTA when he plays more than 30. That's with a rookie whistle and often being ed over by the refs.
It's an invaluable skill to have, puts so much pressure on the opposition.

In 8 games since Spurs got back from Paris he's at 14-33 from 3pt, 41%.
Another unexpected development, he's way ahead of where even the biggest optimists thought he'd be.
And it's not random because he was at 70% from FT in his first 30 games, 76% over the next 20.
The next thing I'd like to see is a reliable pull-up from around the FT line, that would already make him a great offensive weapon. No doubt that he'll get there.

I was really high on him, but I didn't expect he'd be so good offensively in his rookie season.
If he continues on this trajectory, will easily be a 20/5/5 guy with great point of attack defense as soon as the next season.

that's cause he worked on his shot while the Spurs were stuck in LA

[Davidicus]

Im a fan of the Jimmy / Rose combo. Castle gotta step up the D to get on Jrue's level. But goddamn the last few games have been eye-opening.

[CGD]

STAR baby!

If SGA can be an MVP caliber player being a career 35% from 3point, I think Steph can make some noise as his career evolves given his bbiq and intangibles.

[LeBowen]

that's cause he worked on his shot while the Spurs were stuck in LA

Everyone works on their shot. Some just don't have what it takes.

[dn0774]

Luka’s rookie and sop re numbers were 33 and 32%, and his career mark is a shade under 35%. He is not and has never been a lights out 3 pt. shooter. Barely league average.

He shoots near 10 a game most seasons, teams guard him like he’s Steph Curry. His 3p% considering his volume and shot difficulty (lots of dribble step backs) is usually pretty good. He is able to get by people entirely because he teams are scared to death of his 3.

Edit to add, same thing for Harden…league average 3pt% in his elite years yet no one considered dropping back off him at any time. Big difference being league avg as a 3 and D corner 3 guy and being league avg on 10 attempts a game with superstar usage is all I’m saying.

[Gagnrath]

Castle is a rookie and Kobe is a top 15 guy of all time. By the time his rookie deal is up we’ll see the trajectory. I agree that he has the “it” factor. I don’t think I’m seeing him through my Spurs rose colored glasses. I really think he is going to be a superstar. The comps on Butler are tough for me because of all the bull Butler has put past teams through. That being said if he is Butler without the drama and stays in SA for his career his number gets retired and he’s in the hof.

Kobe is a big stretch, If you look at early Raptors Carter I see a better comparison. That said even at that point V.C. was more polished due to more college time. That being said the guy who had potential as a shooter but wasn't there yet and having blow-by athletics is there.

[SPURt]

He looks a lot like rookie D Rose to me, whom this board would absolutely on his rookie year

[Dejounte]

Butler was my initial comp but Castle plays smaller than him and spends less time doing post ups. I think shades of Wade and Rose describes Castle best.

[paperboy77]

Castle is pretty great to watch right now. We'll have to see what happens beyond this year when teams have figured out how to deal with him. If i were him id shoot as many outside shots/three pointers as possible to the point of muscle failure this summer. Teams will figure his current game out soon and he'll be just another defensive contract. (BTW, i think he's well on his way to be a great shooter based off the work ethic and at ude.)

[CGD]

He looks a lot like rookie D Rose to me, whom this board would absolutely on his rookie year

Nah man. I love Castle, but D-Rose was a next level explosive athlete. I def see the SGA-lite comps tho.