Stephon Castle's All-NBA hopes were just dashed thanks to questionable call

Just when it appeared that San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle had a shot to make All-NBA, his hopes just took a major hit. Castle has been the Spurs' second-best player this season, even though De'Aaron Fox made the All-Star team over him.

Nevertheless, it's not unprecedented for a player to miss making the All-Star team but make All-NBA. In fact, Victor Wembanyama did just that during his rookie season.

Unfortunately for Castle, his chances of making All-NBA hinged on several stars being deemed ineligible for the honor. The league just ruled on that possibility.

The NBA ruled that Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham and Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic would both be eligible for end-of-season awards due to extraordinary circumstances. That's despite Cunningham missing time with an injury and Doncic missing the 65 game mark due to being suspended.

Neither should have been considered extraordinary circumstances. However, they rejected Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards' claim. Go figure.

Spurs' Stephon Castle's all-NBA hopes were just dashed

Castle really needed the trifecta of Cunningham, Doncic, and Edwards to be deemed ineligible to have a strong chance at making All-NBA. Hopefully, voters will still look favorably on Castle's play. Especially from February on.

He was practically a different player from that point on. Castle averaged a terrific 16.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 7.9 assists while shooting a terrific 40.3% from 3 on 3.3 attempts per game.

That may not compare with some of the top-tier players in the NBA. But since many of those players have already been deemed ineligible for end-of-season awards, Castle should strongly be considered for All-NBA.

Does Stephon Castle have another route to All-NBA?

It's possible that award voters hold the fact that Cunningham and Doncic didn't actually play enough games against them. That might give Castle a small opening.

However, it's more likely that he doesn't make All-NBA this season. Luckily, his postseason is far from over, and he has a chance to change the hearts and minds of award voters ahead of next season.

It may not be what Spurs fans want to hear, but hopefully, he will have a strong showing in the NBA Playoffs that will carry over to next season. Then, he could make All-NBA as a shoo-in. Just perhaps not this season after the league ruled in favor of Cunningham and Doncic.

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