Spurs' terrifying NBA Cup win over Lakers just proved one undeniable fact

If there are still Spurs doubters remaining, they're also the type of person who licks light poles in the winter. You can choose to be as stubborn as you want, but this team is a serious contender for an NBA championship this season. They've beaten three of the top four seeds in the conference and looked good doing it. That's not an accident.

San Antonio's 132-119 win over the Lakers marks their first time beating Luka Doncic after 14 straight losses. It was important to get that monkey off their backs, and they did it in emphatic fashion.

Stephon Castle looked like a seasoned veteran. He's running the offense in a meaningful game with De'Aaron Fox playing next to him. He's going toe-to-toe with Luka, LeBron James, and the golden boy, Austin Reaves (they love them some Austin Reaves, don't they?). San Antonio's explosive second-year guard was better than them all.

Stephon Castle makes the Spurs a title contender

Don't forget that this kid was an integral part of a championship run at UConn before he was drafted to Alamo City. Castle was coached by Dan Hurley, one of college basketball's best. That matters when you transition to the NBA. He plays big in big moments. The poise the reigning Rookie of the Year shows is almost confusing at times, just because it's so advanced. It's invaluable to the Spurs.

Don't get me wrong, this was another complete team win. Scoring 132 points and defending one of the best offensive teams in the league with such effectiveness doesn't happen unless everyone works together. Seven players scored double digits tonight, with Fox dropping 20, Keldon Johnson putting up 17, and Julian Champagnie and Harrison Barnes both chipping in 16.

It was a tour de force on offense for the Spurs, but Steph led the way with 30 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists. He shot 71% from the field and 50% from three. He hasn't shot that well from outside for most of the season, but stepping up in this moment shows us what's possible. It also proves that he can rise in major moments when his team needs him.

The trust that everyone shows in each other is a huge part of that, and he spoke about that after the game. "My teammates, my coaches, they have a lot of confidence in me... We all just want to win. We don't care who does it; we just want to get it done," he told the sideline reporter after the win.

That's been the mantra all season long, and it harkens back to the days of the Big 3 once they truly evolved. Originally, everything ran through Tim Duncan, but as Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili rounded into the stars we knew them to be, it didn't matter who was the man of the night. They shared the ball and shared the spotlight.

That mentality led to five championships and one of the greatest dynasties the NBA has ever seen. This group is in the very early stages of creating the next great era in San Antonio, and while they still have a long way to go to reach the Big 3's status, they've had a remarkable start.