Spurs HC Mitch Johnson just made his stance on Stephon Castle crystal clear

Media Day has arrived, and Mitch Johnson was first to the podium. During his interview session, he was asked if he sees Stephon Castle playing alongside De'Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper or by himself as the lead guard. Coach Johnson's answer was perfect.

"I see all of that. Steph has proven in three years everything you've just asked," he said. He went on to describe the ways the sophomore guard has grown over the years. "In high school, he was an All-American who was the main creator... goes to UConn and plays every position but player with the ball in his hands... then he arrived here and... played every role."

Castle is a basketball player. Johnson isn't worried about pigeonholing him into one position. Specifically, when asked about what position the former Huskies star plays, he responded with, "Really good player."

Castle is a key part of the Spurs' future

There has been a lot of doubt cast on the young Spurs hooper from outsiders, who seemingly don't believe players improve in the NBA. Lots of guys have doubted his ability to space the floor, and as a result, have opined about the front office possibly moving the reigning Rookie of the Year for what they call "better fits." But there's no better fit for San Antonio than Stephon Castle.

His demeanor is that of a true professional, and it's been that way from the beginning. He's a team-first player who's willing to do the dirty work, and he puts in the time behind the scenes to improve. He wants to win, and this organization is all about winning despite the playoff drought they're currently in. The recent struggles don't supersede the decades of success.

Castle is a successful player. As an All-American in high school and a champion at UConn, he has experience with sitting atop the mountain. Getting into the NBA is a different animal, sure, but there is a benefit when players come from winning backgrounds. Steph brings that cache to the Silver and Black, and his steady demeanor will come in handy in big moments.

This kid did everything for the Spurs last season. Like Coach Johnson said, some of it was out of necessity, and some was just because they believed in him. He showed he could handle added responsibility, so he played off the ball, on the ball, guarded the opposing team's best player, rebounded, and did just about everything one could do on a basketball court.

That shows his selflessness and his commitment to helping the team no matter what his role looks like. Johnson knows the value of a player like that, so he's going to continue to use him as a versatile weapon, and that only spells good things for the Spurs as the younger half of Area 51 continues to grow.