Stephon Castle clearing this hurdle would make the Spurs all but unbeatable

If one were to ask the average NBA fan about what Stephon Castle needs to add to his game, the most common answer would likely be that he needs a three-point shot. He shot just 28.5 percent from beyond the arc as a rookie and, though he upped his percentage, remained inefficient at 33.2 percent in 2025-26.

What the 2026 NBA Playoffs proved, however, is that the San Antonio Spurs need Castle to develop something else to truly unlock their potential: An in-between game.

Castle is a tremendous finisher at the rim who improved his efficiency from beyond the arc during the playoffs. He shot 35.0 percent from three-point range during the 2026 postseason, though he was lights-out during the first two rounds and inefficient during the Conference Finals and NBA Finals.

A possible explanation for what went wrong is that his legs grew tired the more the playoffs went on because of how limited his scoring options were.

If Castle wasn't converting shots at the rim or burying a three, he was essentially not scoring. His postseason shot chart proves as much, as he was painfully inefficient from anywhere other than the paint or two specific areas as a three-point shooter.

If the Spurs are going to make the final leap and become NBA champions, then Castle will need to be able to score from midrange or even convert close shots from outside of the paint.

Spurs need Stephon Castle to develop an in-between game

Castle is a downhill player whose primary objective on offense is beating his man off the dribble and reading what the defense gives him. Whether he turns said drives into a pass or a finish at the rim, he's a bull in a china shop with skill on his side.

Unfortunately, elite defenses are seemingly learning to trap Castle and force him to either dribble into traffic or attempt close and midrange shots that aren't yet in his arsenal.

That's an admittedly inevitable development, as teams have routinely taken that approach with whom they believe to be non-shooters. It's simply a matter of strategizing to take away a player's strong suit, limiting the potential for a three-point shot to be converted, and forcing them to rely on a two-point jumper or floater that they already struggle to hit.

The New York Knicks did exactly that during the NBA Finals, which led to Castle shooting just 37.7 percent from the field and scoring fewer than 15 points in three of the five games during the series.

If Castle can develop a stronger floater and even a midrange game that he can turn to in a pinch, however, he'll complete his evolution into an elite downhill scorer. He'll still need a respectable three-ball, but teams won't be able to trap him and his legs won't grow tired as quickly.

If Castle is able to make this adjustment and clear the hurdle in front of him, then the Spurs will border on unbeatable as one of the few weaknesses in their elite rotation is resolved.

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