Stephon Castle's All-Defensive Team votes reveal scary reality about Spurs' future

It's no surprise that Victor Wembanyama made the All-Defensive First Team this season after being named the league's first unanimous DPOY. While his Area 51 counterpart Stephon Castle didn't make the list, he received five first-place votes and 36 second-place votes.

That means one thing: the Spurs boast one of the scariest defensive duos in the NBA, and that will be the case for a long time. The pairing of Castle's elite point-of-attack defense and Wemby's otherworldly rim protection will terrorize opponents for years to come.

Having these two as defensive options is a luxury that only a few teams in the league possess, and it's yet another reason as to why many believe the Spurs are the NBA's next dynasty.

Castle's perimeter defense was the best of the best

In just year two, Stephon Castle established himself as one of the most reliable one-on-one defenders in the NBA, which is a rarity for someone in such an early stage in their career. He had no issue guarding some of the league's most dangerous perimeter scorers, such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cade Cunningham, and Luka Doncic.

There is also a ton of versatility in his defensive attack. Mitch Johnson felt comfortable putting Castle on bigger forwards and centers, and it led to some much-needed stops for the Spurs.

This is the stuff you see from NBA veterans, not second-year guards. If Castle's able to do all of this at such an early stage in his career, imagine him in subsequent seasons when he tightens up even more on some of his slip-ups on that end.

The Wemby-Castle defensive duo will add to the Spurs' longevity

The Spurs' front office was wise with how they built their roster. They started with Wemby, who provides the league's best interior protection. The next year, they added Stephon Castle, giving San Antonio serious upside with their perimeter defense.

The pairing of an elite rim protector and an aggressive point-of-attack defender is a formula for postseason longevity. Great shot blockers are at their best when they play with guards who provide strong perimeter resistance.

San Antonio isn't a team that's going to be carried by Wemby's rim protection. Stephon Castle's elite one-on-one defense takes a lot of pressure off of him, and it'll keep the Spurs near the top of regular-season and playoff defensive categories for years to come.

So while Castle didn't walk away with any award recognition, the rest of the league still knows about the impact that he has as a defender. And there's a bright side to his not making the list. Maybe this adds fuel to the fire, making him even more dangerous on that end.

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