Stephon Castle's surprising three-point shot will be key for the Spurs' backcourt

The San Antonio Spurs didn't get the result they wanted on opening night against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Frost Bank Arena. But there was one bright spot: Stephon Castle's impressive long-range shooting. It's exactly what this team needs for its unique three-guard setup to prosper.

Castle looked confident from beyond the arc, draining 5-12 of his three-point attempts. The third-year guard mixed it up, knocking them down off the catch and off the bounce. He was the best long-range sniper for a Spurs team that shot just 27% from distance.

Castle's proving that his hot playoff shooting was no fluke

Castle didn't start as a great three-point shooter early in his career, but the tide began to shift after the 2026 All-Star break. He found his stride during that stretch and carried it into the playoffs, where he made 35% of his long-range attempts. Now, the question is: can he consistently do that for an entire season?

Well, he made a great first impression in the Spurs' season opener. He hit some crucial threes throughout the night, doing everything he could to keep his team in striking distance.

While Castle's playoff shooting was solid, he struggled against the Thunder in the West Finals, draining just 23% of his attempts in that series. So they felt comfortable daring him to fire up threes in this game, but the results weren't the same. He confidently let it fly, converting on 41% of his 12 attempts. He looked every bit like someone who trusted the work he put into his jump shot.

Castle's backcourt mates must follow suit

The rest of the Spurs' three-guard lineup didn't have the same three-point shooting success as Castle. While he was great getting to the rim, Dylan Harper went 0-2 from downtown. De'Aaron Fox had the same results, failing to convert on his pair of attempts.

This isn't going to cut it. If the Spurs want this new setup to work, each of these guards must effectively space the floor and punish defenses from long range. Without that, it'll be difficult for them to keep driving lanes open and create opportunities for shots closer to the basket.

It also makes life more difficult for Victor Wembanyama. It's easier for defenses to crowd him or cut off his path to the rim if there's no reason to contain the three-point line. This team won't reach its full potential if its ball-handlers struggle to shoot like this.

Luckily, it's just the first game. There's no reason to overreact; this stage of the season should help them get into rhythm and find out what works. It should be a great early confidence booster that Castle is willing to be aggressive from distance and can drain his threes efficiently.

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