Over the summer, the San Antonio Spurs made massive offseason moves that somehow flew under the radar as Klay Thompson and Paul George went to new teams. The Spurs traded for Harrison Barnes signed Chris Paul, and drafted Stephon Castle. Each one of them has impacted winning already, with Barnes taking home Western Conference Player of the Week earlier this season.
Paul, while far from his prime, is still one of the very best floor generals in the NBA. Castle's offense leaves something to be desired, but he is brimming with potential and is already one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA.
During the Spurs' recent 121-116 win over the New Orleans Pelicans, Castle exited the game with a pretty gnarly-looking shoulder injury. Fans were worried he would be out for the rest of the game, but he returned, finishing with 22 points, five rebounds, and four assists while playing solid defense.
Castle has long been praised for playing at his own pace, embracing physicality, and lending himself to winning basketball. Basically, he brings a veteran mindset as a 19-year-old rookie.
On Tuesday, Barnes took a moment to praise the way Castle got back up after hurting his shoulder, as he finished the rest of the game with extra padding on his upper arm.
"Steph is obviously an extremely tough kid, man of few words," said the NBA Champion. "You ask him how's he doing, he's just like, 'alright.'"
With Devin Vassell and Jeremy Sochan both injured at points this season, Castle has been thrust into the fire early on and seems totally unphased.
Related: Which Spurs Should Be Nominated for NBA Awards?
"I feel like each game he's taken on just a greater responsibility," Barned continued.
Castle is an NCAA champion and has made it clear that he prides himself on versatility and wants to find team success in the NBA. For the Spurs, that means allowing him to take on a leadership role, and he has chosen to set a strong example.
Related: Who Is On the Spurs' 'Chopping Block'?
Copyright 2024 Athlon Sports. All rights reserved.
This story was originally published December 11, 2024, 1:29 PM.