Spurs' Stephon Castle just stole a page out of Chris Paul's playbook

San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle has managed to avoid a sophomore slump this season by showing off a different side of his game. Playmaking has been at the forefront of his development, with him averaging nearly seven assists per game while primarily playing point guard.

And although fans have been focused more on his three-point shooting, which has improved as the year has gone on, they should be more focused on his mid-range game. Quiet is kept; Castle is emerging as a solid mid-range shooter.

After spending last season playing with future Hall of Famer Chris Paul, it's nice to see that he has adapted CP3's mid-range game.

That might not be exactly what fans were hoping for, considering the fit concerns between him, DeAaron Fox, and Dylan Harper. Nevertheless, it shows that his game has steadily expanded and is a great sign of things to come.

Stephon Castle's swing skill is close to becoming a reality

Former Spur Dejounte Murray could serve as a template for Castle. Murray wasn't quite as big or physical as Castle is, but, like Castle, Murray was far better at getting to the rim than shooting from outside.

However, over time, he developed into a potent mid-range shooter for the Spurs, helping to unlock his potential. San Antonio sold high on him, trading him for three first-round picks, one of which became Carter Bryant.

It also helped San Antonio bottom out and end up with Victor Wembanyama and Castle. Meanwhile, Murray developed into an above-average 3-point shooter with the Atlanta Hawks.

Of course, the Silver and Black likely wouldn't want to trade Castle anytime soon. Moreover, him showing that he has the shooting touch needed to be an elite mid-range shooter hints that he could eventually become a capable 3-point threat.

There's hope that Stephon Castle will become a 3-point threat

Those who remain skeptical of Castle's shooting should look no further than his recent shooting numbers. In his last eight games (prior to the Boston game), he's connected on 38.1% of his 2.6 3-point attempts per game.

He is also shooting 45.6% on mid-range jumpers this season, which suggests that he can eventually expand his range. That is especially true considering that nearly all of those shots are pull-up jumpers and are more contested than his 3-point attempts.

Ultimately, Castle has demonstrated his skill as a mid-range shooter, making it a valuable weapon in his arsenal. This could potentially pave the way for him to develop into a reliable 3-point shooter, helping him realize his full potential.