Next season, Victor Wembanyama is expected to lead the MVP race, Dylan Harper is expected to make his first All-Star Game, and Stephon Castle…is the third-best player in that trio. That’s not to say that he isn’t an elite player, but the hierarchy has pretty easily been established.
Except, there’s a very real case to be made that Castle is closer to Wemby than he is to Harper. After all, he’s easily the best perimeter defender on the roster, and Harper is no slouch. He might not have lead guard skills, but he’s an elite facilitator who uses his imposing size to see the entire court.
Last season, after a Rookie of the Year debut, Castle stepped up his game. He posted 16.7 points, 7.4 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. His 3-point shooting improved, but was still questionable, at 33.2 percent for the season.
However, he ended the year red-hot, and the sample size is big enough to suggest that he could start next season among the best players in the world, regardless of position.
Stephon Castle Is Poised For a Massive Leap
It should go without saying that Castle’s ceiling is an All-NBA player. After all, his defense carries his case, and he has the expectations that come with being drafted fourth overall, even in a weak class.
The one thing holding him back is his shooting, although that’s of less concern than it may have been last year.
In 2026, after the New Year, Castle averaged 16 points, 7.6 assists, and 1.1 steals, all while being an elite defender. Only four players posted 15 points, a steal, seven assists, and shot above-league average from the 3-point range (plus with more than two defensive win shares) last season.
Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, and LaMelo Ball. Not bad company to be in!
All of those players are better scorers than Castle, but the Spurs’ guard is a much better defender than any of them. His playmaking, aside from Jokic, seems to be on par with the rest.
If the Spurs manage to win 62 games again without as much help from De’Aaron Fox, who is expected to take on a lesser role next season, then Castle deserves his flowers. So does Harper, for that matter, although his receiving an individual honor next season is almost a given.
In San Antonio, the race to be the second-best player is a little closer than fans originally thought.
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