ESPN analyst says Victor Wembanyama is not the only Spur on first-team All-Defense

Stephon Castle's defensive attack has been absolutely lethal this season for the San Antonio Spurs. He's had standout performances on that end against marquee names like Shai-Gilgeous Alexander, Cade Cunningham, Luka Doncic, Devin Booker, Michael Porter Jr., and others. Here's a better way to put it... he's been terrorizing MVP candidates all season long.

There is a heavy focus on Victor Wembanyama's defensive prowess this season, and rightfully so. His rim protection is second to none, and it's even gotten to the point where it's worth counting how many times he turns opponents away mid-drive to the rim just because of his presence. But Castle's defensive impact has been just as important for the Spurs.

"The Spurs are going to have two All-Defense guys, assuming that [Victor Wembanyama] is eligible games-wise," analyst Tim Bontempts asserts on the Hoop Collective podcast. "I'm voting Stephon Castle for First Team. He is one of the best 2-guard defenders in the league for sure."

The Spurs have a championship formula

The defensive combination of this duo is beyond deadly. As a guard, trying to conceptualize scoring over Victor Wembanyama in the paint is already mind-boggling; then you realize that even to get there, you have to get past Stephon Castle!

There is a similarity between this team's setup and that of the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. Their front office paired Chet Holmgren's intimidating interior presence with staunch perimeter defenders like Lu Dort and Alex Caruso.

This roster-building strategy led to them not only having a championship defense but also one of the most dominant defensive attacks of all time.

We are seeing a similar dynamic here with the Wemby and Castle pairing. Stephon can either prevent opponents from getting past him or create angles to funnel them right into Wembanyama's interior domain. It's a defensive puzzle that only a few can hope to solve.

It's all in the details for Castle

Stephon Castle's defensive genius is not just demonstrated by his ability to steal the ball or force unflattering field goal percentages on MVP candidates. He is also one of the NBA's best at defending through screens.

This is such an underrated defensive attribute, yet it's extremely valuable in the league today. Screening actions, whether on or off-ball, are obviously staples of the modern NBA offense. Castle excels at fighting through those and blowing up plays, which create headaches for opposing coaching staffs.

Stephon Castle is not just someone who puts up attractive defensive numbers. He is someone who can match up against the league's best on any given night and make the reads necessary to shut down opposing offenses.

These are the traits of someone who is going to make a massive impact beyond just the regular season but well into the postseason.