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The NBA off-season is normally when players take what they have learned during the season and improve their games. San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle should be no different. The Spurs are hoping Castle takes a big leap next season after having a strong sophomore season.
In fact, it seems clear that they are counting on it. They have only made minimal changes to their roster and instead appear to be banking on internal development.
Castle is the most likely candidate to emerge as the team's third star given how well he played last season. He was given an expanded role and was featured as more of a point guard rather than playing off-ball, like he did as a rookie.
The results were mostly positive, with him leading the team in assists, though he struggled at times with turnovers. If he can reign in his turnovers, he could be a legit starting point guard in the NBA, and that is a tantalizing thought.
Spurs have left door open for Stephon Castle to make leap to stardom
I suspect that the Spurs may have Castle go back to playing more off-ball next season, but it could further his development. He has improved as a shooter enough that he can thrive playing shooting guard, while possibly freeing up De'Aaron Fox to play the point.
That could hopefully result in a bounce-back season for Fox while freeing up Castle. He could still be effective as a spot-up shooter, attack closeouts, and operate as a secondary ballhandler.
We already know he is a talented finisher at the rim and that he lives at the free throw line, but he's also an effective mid-range shooter. In the playoffs, he shot a solid 35% on 4.3 3-point attempts per game.
He will hopefully shoot at least as well next season. Especially if he increases his 3-point attempts to more than five and free throws to more than seven attempts per game, he could average 20 points. If that's the case, he, Fox, and Victor Wembanyama could all be all-stars next season.
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