Beloved NBA savants nail what makes Castle special with emphatic endorsement

As a season of adversity and uncertainty wraps, there's one thing Spurs fans know for sure: Stephon Castle was the right pick for this team. He was projected as one of the most pro-ready prospects in his draft class and he's proven that analysis to be correct. He's going to win Rookie of the Year easily. At this point, announcing the award is just ceremonial.

I expected Castle to be a finalist to win and was confident he'd bring it home but he's surpassed even my expectations. The former NCAA champion entered the league with a winning pedigree, coming from the coaching of Dan Hurley at UConn. He showed it with his play on the floor, but while the stats are there, they don't tell you what's important about San Antonio's rookie.

Newly respawned NBA analyst Zach Lowe has put down roots at The Ringer after a short hiatus following his exit from ESPN. Lowe was joined by another respected analyst, Kirk Goldsberry, and they raved about Castle. Goldsberry spoke about what makes Steph special and he couldn't be more right.

"When you talk to the Spurs, they don't talk about stats with him. They talk about presence in the locker room, the intangibles, the competitiveness; and that's not a common thing in this league right now." - Kirk Goldsberry

Castle has the "it" factor coaches can't teach

Either you have "it" or you don't, and Stephon Castle has the sauce that all players wish they had. When he speaks to the media, you can see the confidence he exudes. He believes in himself and that's a powerful thing. It's not a cocky confidence, either. The Peach State-born guard is humble in his assertion, but he's not afraid to put his stamp on the game.

There isn't a stat to measure desire and grit but if there was, Castle would be high on the scale. When I watch certain young players—mainly high draft picks—I'm looking at their motor. How bad do they want it? When you see reasonable skill, significant improvement, and relentless effort in a young player, there is usually something special in them.

They won't always reach their potential but that can depend on several things—mainly their environment. I'm a firm believer that more players are ruined by going to the wrong situation than guys who are made into success stories.

Fortunately, Castle is in the right place to reach his potential. Kawhi Leonard is a sore subject for Spurs fans, but he's the last example we have a player drafted who improved exponentially from what he was projected to be to who he was by the end of his rookie season. The Klaw played with a relentless effort that often outmatched his opponents, leading to extra possessions and points.

Steph has a similar motor and it's exactly what's propelled him to grab so many of the rebounds Lowe and Goldsberry mentioned in the video above. Spurs Nation is happy that Brian Wright found a guy with skills that the team needs, but they're thrilled about who he is as a player. Castle has all the right intangibles in spades and fans couldn't be happier with the hand they were dealt.