The ‘Knuckleheads Podcast’ featured former NBA players Darius Miles and Quentin Richardson, as well as new Spurs newcomer Stephon Castle. Castle was queried by the duo regarding the pre-draft process. Castle provided insight into the format of NBA combine interviews.
“During the combine, they pose peculiar inquiries during the interviews and other activities.” However, I was required to interview for 14 or 15 organizations. They posed some peculiar inquiries regarding historical events and background information that one would assume they were unaware of. It merely demonstrates that they have been observing for an indefinite period.
Castle then recounted a brief anecdote in which a team inquired about an undisclosed incident that occurred during his middle school years. He observed that the incident was only momentarily disclosed to the public, and he had not been questioned about it in years. Castle observed that NBA teams are meticulous in their preparation for interviews.
“One of the teams, I don’t recall which team it was, they asked me about something that happened in middle school that went public. People don’t really know about it now but for them to bring it back up, that was like my first time hearing about it, it had been so long. It’s insane they’ve been watching for that long.”
Castle evidently impressed the San Antonio Spurs in his interview, as they drafted him with the fourth overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
His time at UConn playing under Dan Hurley seems to have prepared him for the gritty and hard-working culture that the Spurs have cultivated, and fans are excited to see him play alongside franchise cornerstone Victor Wembanyama.
Castle played a crucial role in UConn’s title-winning season, averaging 11.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists. While those figures don’t necessarily jump off the page, he was a crucial player for the Huskies, starting 30 of the 34 games he played for the reigning NCAA champions.
How Will Stephon Castle Help Wembanyama And The Spurs?
Stephon Castle is an aggressive, hard-working guard who can score, but also play effective defense.
His presence on the court will be a positive one for the Spurs’ main player, Victor Wembanyama. Wemby had a sensational rookie season, winning Rookie of the Year, and finishing second behind his countryman Rudy Gobert in the contest for Defensive Player of the Year.
While Castle’s three-point shooting is something that needs to be improved upon, with him shooting at just 26.7% from beyond the arc, the promise and potential he presents as a young, hungry player makes him an attractive prospect for the Spurs.
Castle will profit greatly from playing under legendary Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich. Pop has shown in the past he can draw the best out of drafted players, like Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. So any concerns about his immediate fit will dissipate when Pop starts to work with him.
Can Castle help the Spurs make the transition to the next level? That is unlikely, as he and Wembanyama are still very young. The promise that both players bring to the table is bound to excite Spurs fans, and we could see them competing for a championship together in the coming years.
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