Stephon Castle expectations revealed during surprise Popovich interview

Summer League action may not count for anything, but it's surely fun to watch when your team's prospects are putting on a show. That's exactly what Stephon Castle did in the game against the Portland Trail Blazers, putting up 22 points, five rebounds and four assists with a steal for good measure. He led the San Antonio Spurs to an 83-77 victory, gaining bragging rights over the opposing center and his UConn teammate, Donovan Clingan.

The performance wasn't without its hiccups, but that's expected for a 19-year-old. He turned the ball over five times, and his shooting percentages weren't spectacular. It will all come with time. However, there is no doubt that he is an impressive young player, and Coach Gregg Popovich—who showed up to watch the game with Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes—agrees.

"He doesn't go too fast, he doesn't go too slow. He reads the situations and the more minutes he gets, the better he's going to be... He's going to be a quick study I think, and get to play on the court pretty quickly"

- Gregg Popovich

Expect Castle to play early and often

If the Spurs had done nothing but draft Stephon Castle, he would have been an obvious candidate for heavy minutes as soon as possible. But this team has added veteran pieces that expect to play and play often. That, combined with the need to continue developing their roster of young talent, would have brought Castle's available playing time into question. It's hard to tell how many minutes a rookie is going to get.

When you join rosters with established players, you have to earn your time, even if you are a high draft pick. If you don't do the right things on the floor defensively and play selflessly, you aren't getting on the court in a Silver and Black uniform. The UConn star has shown that he can do that and more. His displays have been eye-popping, showing off his craftiness, physicality and fearlessness.

There's a lot to like about Stephon Castle's game and while not everyone's performances translate from Summer League to the real NBA, that shouldn't be the case for Castle. Nobody expects him to drop 22 points consistently, but his physicality and defense are something the Spurs need, and those traits always carry over.

Watch the whole Popovich interview below!