Stephon Castle is already the best player from the 2024 NBA Draft, and it’s not even close. Still, though, the class of ’24 is widely regarded as one of the worst drafts of the 21st century, so being “the best” isn’t the most impressive claim.
Even with the low bar, Castle has exceeded expectations. He’s one of the better perimeter defenders and facilitators in the NBA, and knows how to get under the skin of his opponents.
He’s young and still quite raw, but if he can add a reliable 3-point shot, it’s not crazy to say that he is on track to make All-NBA teams. In his final 25 games last season, he shot 41.2 percent from deep. In the playoffs, that fell to 35 percent, which is still above his career average.
He’s spent the summer working on his shot, and if that 41-percent mark isn’t a fluke, he should be ready to take a massive leap.
It might come with a downside, though.
Stephon Castle Has to Be Moved Off Ball
Last season, the Spurs played two point guards in the starting lineup. Both Castle and De’Aaron Fox got plenty of on-ball reps. It was the first time in his career that Fox ever had to take a back seat on offense.
While Fox did make an All-Star team, he was clearly better with the ball in his hands, and the Spurs were better when he or Dylan Harper brought the ball up the floor.
Castle’s 3.8 turnovers per 36 minutes were the worst on the roster. He’s a slasher through and through, and can occupy the dunker’s spot or serve as a viable (but not elite) catch-and-shoot threat.
| Shot Type | FG% | FGA Per Game | FGM Per Game |
| All 3PT | 33.2% | 3.6 | 1.2 |
| Catch-and-Shoot 3PT | 37.2% | 2.9 | 1.1 |
| Off-the-Dribble 3PT | 17.0% | 0.7 | 0.1 |
There are some players, like Kyrie Irving, James Harden, and CJ McCollum, who shoot better off the dribble than they do off an assist. Castle is not one of them. He is a better shooter than Fox–which isn’t saying a whole lot–but is pretty deadly on catch-and-shoot attempts.
With his summer training, it stands to reason that his outside shot will be even better this season.
Castle has long been clear about his goal to play point guard, but with both Fox and Harper better ball-handlers than him, that probably won’t ever happen. At least not for sustained minutes.
Improving his shot has been a must ever since he entered the NBA, but it comes with a downside. It should result in him being used less as a main facilitator and ball-handler, and instead playing off-ball. He doesn’t want to do that.
If it results in the Spurs winning, though, then he probably won’t complain too much about thriving in a different role.
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