Is Stephon Castle now an elite shooter?
Over the course of the common season, it turned clear Stephon Castle was not going to endure a sophomore stoop following up his Rookie of the Year season. Castle, at solely 21 years outdated, improved in each practically counting stat he might. From factors (14.7 per sport to 16.7), rebounds (3.7 to five.3), assists (4.1 to 7.4), and efficient discipline purpose share (47.6 to 52.1), Castle improved his marks. And after all, his trademark trait, his protection, solely continued to strike worry into the hearts of the remainder of the league.
The combo-guard appeared to have just one flaw to his sport: taking pictures. From his first to second 12 months, he rose from 28.5 to 33.2 p.c from three; However, it remained at a number of ticks under league common.
And then the playoffs occurred. Through two rounds, Castle is now taking pictures at an excellent 44.0 p.c on 4.5 makes an attempt per sport. If he can proceed to make groups pay from deep, there isn’t any telling the restrict on the offensive capabilities of this Spurs staff. The solely query is that if he can stick with it.
Over the latest historical past of the league, there have been a number of gamers who’ve developed their perimeter shot, turning from full non-shooters to lethal if left unguarded. Remaining per it, although, that is one other story altogether.
For a latest instance, have a look at the Spurs’ earlier opponent. Anthony Edwards in Minnesota entered the league as a promising younger two-guard, however his three-point taking pictures was barely under common. Over time, I constructed on that. In the 2024-2025 season, he got here out of the gate launching from deep, making an attempt over 10 per sport and sinking them at a 41.4 p.c clip pre-All-Star break. Time would inform if he might stay constant. He did. Over his final two seasons, he has remained at 39.6 p.c at 9.5 makes an attempt per sport.
Edwards is a case of a participant discovering his shot and conserving it, however there are examples of a participant discovering a shot for even a full season, solely to then regress in the direction of the imply. Keldon Johnson has had an attention-grabbing relationship along with his shot on this regard.
In Johnson’s third 12 months, it was trying like he may be on the verge of turning into one of many league’s greatest shooters. He completed the season averaging 39.8 p.c from three and 49.5 p.c from the corners. But that would not stick, averaging 33.8 p.c over the past 4 seasons. Still an environment friendly participant, however now in additional methods than simply taking pictures.
The level is, gamers’ taking pictures skills are malleable. Plenty have developed into actual threats: Edwards, Al Horford, and Kawhi Leonard, to call just a few. While others have a extra fluctuating relationship with their taking pictures from 12 months to 12 months: Johnson, Jrue Holiday, and even LeBron James have had seasons and post-seasons drifting under and above common taking pictures.
Right now, for Castle, he has the recent hand. And by its nature, the playoffs are a really small pattern measurement. The solely factor that may let you know if he can stick with it is time. So far, he is gotten nice appears to be like, and he is selecting his spots properly. All of his post-season threes are with a defender, at minimal, 4 toes away, and a great majority are from catch-and-shoot makes an attempt.
If he continues to make groups pay for leaving him open, the following stage will probably be how he adjusts to defenses guarding him nearer and shutting out more durable on him. All he must do is make them pay for leaving him open. Because even when his share goes down as a consequence of defenses responding, that simply means extra levers to drag for Coach Mitch Johnson and the Spurs.
Castle has already proven that he has the athleticism to assault closeouts and the basketball IQ to search out the fitting play. Even if his being extra carefully guarded results in the ball not ending up in his palms on the perimeter, that solely means more room for De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper to slash and one much less defender to bang and dangle on Victor Wembanyama down low.
For now, the Spurs and Castle can solely take it one sport at a time, however they present no indicators of slowing down getting into the convention finals. Oklahoma City’s protection is quick and twitchy; will probably be their hardest playoff problem but.