The Spurs are one of the NBA's best teams heading into the 2026-27 campaign, but that doesn't mean there aren't ways to improve. That's especially true for Stephon Castle. His growth as an offensive decision-maker is important, but San Antonio fans should be very confident that he'll get it right next season.
Castle was amazing during his second year, especially in the playoffs. He was a reliable scorer, averaging 18.2 points on 45.9% shooting and 35% from distance. His playmaking and defense were also extremely valuable. By the end of that run, it was clear that he was one of the NBA's best all-around guards.
But his youth and inexperience did show up at times. He struggled with turnovers and offensive fouls, which killed the Spurs' momentum in key moments. However, we can expect to see a more mature version of him in his third season.
Stephon Castle has a knack for learning on the fly
If there's one thing that's impressive about Stephon Castle, it's his rapid development. Think about the leap he made from his rookie season to his second. He turned into one of San Antonio's top playmakers, leading the team with 7.4 assists per game.
The same goes for his long-range shooting. As a rookie, he made just 28% of his looks, but by the end of his second season, defenses couldn't leave him open. He made over 40% of his threes after the All-Star Break and 35% in the playoffs.
So Stephon Castle has given us good reason to trust in his growth. That ability to understand his weaknesses and adjust accordingly makes him a special player, and it's why you can bank on him being a sharper decision-maker in year three.
Experience is the best teacher for Castle
Sometimes, having your biggest weaknesses exposed in a deep playoff run can be a blessing. It gives players a long, detailed checklist of things to improve upon for the next season.
Experiences mold great players into a better version of themselves. LeBron wouldn't have perfected his jump shot without going through the 2011 NBA Finals. Giannis wouldn't have won his first championship if his own offensive flaws had not been exposed during his playoff runs.
Like those players, Castle needed to go through that 2026 postseason run to grow into the star we know he can be. Competing in those high-stakes games gave him a measure of how far he needed to come with his decision-making.
Stephon is close to becoming a top-five-level guard in the NBA with his elite all-around skill set. Patching up his biggest weakness will help him reach that level and also get the Spurs a step closer to a championship.
