Why Stephon Castle must imporve shooting
Why Stephon Castle must imporve shooting originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
When the San Antonio Spurs drafted Stephon Castle fourth overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, they knew that they were getting a versatile ball handler, an excellent defender, and, critically, a winner.
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Castle played a massive role in the UConn Huskies winning the 2024 NCAA title and showcased his poise and competitiveness throughout his rookie season, running away with the Rookie of the Year award.
However, the Spurs need him to improve one area: his shooting.
Castle shot only 42.8 percent from the floor and a lowly 28.5 percent from deep in his rookie season. If the Spurs do what everyone expects and draft Dylan Harper second overall, they will have three starting-caliber guards who aren't solid shooters.
Harper, Castle, and De'Aaron Fox all excel with the ball in their hands, although if none of them can serve as an elite catch-and-shoot threat, having all three of them on the floor alongside Victor Wembanyama is not a recipe for success.
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Luckily, Castle shot a solid 35.3 percent on left corner 3s last season, although the sample size was rather small. If he can become a corner specialist, then he can slash from the top of the key when he plays on-ball and be a shooter when he's off the ball, and he has the size and athleticism to step into the dunker's spot if the defense starts to collapse.
The working theory is that the Spurs, barring a trade, will start Wemby, Fox, Castle, Devin Vassell, and Jeremy Sochan next season, with Harrison Barnes, Julian Champagnie, and Harper coming off the bench.
Vassell is the only above-average shooter in that starting five, and the Spurs will need Castle to expand his offensive game this summer.
Check out the Inside the Spurs home page for more news, analysis, and must-read articles.
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Related: San Antonio Spurs' Guard Provides Offseason Update
Related: Spurs Could Sign Veteran Center From Division Rival
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
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