Though their star player had been ejected for allowing himself to get lost in the physicality of the NBA playoffs vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves, San Antonio Spurs star Stephon Castle wasn't about to let Victor Wembanyama's elbow affect his approach.
ClutchPoints asked last season's Rookie of the Year if, five games in, he's settled in to how the officials are calling this series.
“We knew with everything that happened in the last 48 hours that they were going to call it pretty tight, especially early on in the game,” Castle said, alluding to Wembanyama's infraction in Game 4.
“So, that's just a thing you have to work through game to game,” the Spurs second leading scorer in the playoffs told ClutchPoints.
Wemby's elbow aside, Castle has been the Spur most affected by the aggressive play on both ends in this Western Conference semifinal.
“If you're not physical with them, they have a lot of guys that can score in isos and play one-on-one,” the former UConn star continued to ClutchPoints. “In order to get stops and be able to contest, you have to be physical; just trying to play smart to see how the ref is calling it.”
Stephon Castle emphasizes importance of Spurs physicality
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) works around San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) in the fourth quarter of game four of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Target Center.
Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images
Castle not only allowed for the possibility that the Timberwolves would begin the swing Game 5 aggressively, but he also expected it.
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“To start the game we knew it was going to be physical, so just making that a point of emphasis and trying to keep them off the offensive glass,” Castle said. “I feel like we started the game off well and that's where our runs came from. But, obviously, they're a good team. They're going to go on their own runs, so we just try not to hang our head when that does happen and be able to respond and spark another run for ourselves.”
San Antonio held multiple double-digit leads vs. Minnesota in the 126-97 victory that put them up 3-2 in the series. Castle scored 17, dished out a team-high six assists and grabbed four rebounds. Perhaps, most importantly, he avoided the foul trouble that's often plagued him, committing three over the course of Game 5 at the Frost Bank Center.
“When we're getting fouled or we feel like something was a little extra, we've got to move past it quick,” the fourth overall pick of the 2024 NBA Draft shared. “We still have a basketball game going on; trying to stay level-headed in that sense and I feel like that's what's helped us all series.”
For the playoffs, Castle's scoring average is up by two points. His 18.7 per game through ten postseason contests rank second to Wemby's 20.4 and a hair ahead of De'Aaron Fox's 18.6.
“Understanding it's more than just that possession,” Castle revealed about the necessary mindset this time of year.
The Spurs now head to Minneapolis, Minnesota, with a chance to punch a ticket to face the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
“We're two teams that are battling for a spot in the Western Conference Finals. So, it's not anything personal. At the end of the day, it's basketball.”
Though their star player had been ejected for allowing himself to get lost in the physicality of the NBA playoffs vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves, San Antonio Spurs star Stephon Castle wasn't about to let Victor Wembanyama's elbow affect his approach. ClutchPoints asked last season's Rookie of the Year if, five games in, he's settled in to how the officials are calling this series.