Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo won’t participate in All-Star Weekend due to a calf strain, but he is still in Los Angeles doing his usual interviews as a selected member of the team. When reporters asked him about Spurs sophomore Stephon Castle on Saturday, he had only good things to say about the 2025 Rookie of the Year.
Giannis a “big fan” of two-way players like Castle
“Incredible. Incredible. He’s an incredible player,” Giannis praised the young guard, a member of Team Melo in Friday’s Rising Stars tournament. “He definitely helps his team. He’s like the engine of that team. One of the engines of that team. One thing that I love about him is he’s not just an offensive player. He takes the challenge of guarding the other team’s best player, which you don’t see a lot in today’s game.”
Castle has followed up his award-winning rookie year with a demonstrably better season in ’25-26. Days before the All-Star break, he poured in a 40-point triple-double versus the Mavericks. Overall, he is averaging 16.5 points, seven assists, and five rebounds while being one of the better defensive guards in the game.
“As I’ve said in the past, players that are two-way, that play offense and defense, I’m a big fan of them, and he’s one of them.”
Jan 11, 2020; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard (0) grabs a rebound ahead of Milwaukee Bucks power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during the first half at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Giannis himself has been named to four All-Defense First Teams and won Defensive Player of the Year during his second MVP campaign, in 2020.
Castle’s Rising Stars squad fell in the final tournament MVP VJ Edgecombe and Team Vince. As soon as next year, the former fourth overall pick could be participating in the All-Star Games proper, which this season feature a round robin competition between Team World and two American rosters – Team Stripes and Team Stars.
Giannis was selected as a member of Team World but replaced by De’Aaron Fox, another Spur, on Team Stripes, due to Antetokounmpo’s injury. It was the 10th straight All-Star selection of his career.
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