Stephon Castle addressed the media on Tuesday, June 2, as the San Antonio Spurs prepared for Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks, offering a clear view of the team’s mindset after a long postseason run.
When asked about being the youngest Finals team in nearly 50 years and whether inexperience mattered, Castle downplayed the concern and pointed to internal belief. He said, “I mean, I don’t think that was ever a problem for us. I think for us that was really just all outside noise and in house we have nothing but confidence in each other.”
He emphasized the Spurs’ approach throughout the playoffs, adding, “And we take it game by game and try to walk this thing down. And, I mean, we’ve got to this point. So, I mean, we’ve been making history like every game it’s like we see something new.” He also made it clear the job is unfinished, stating, “So, I mean, yeah, we got four more to go and we got this far but we still haven’t really done anything yet.”
Castle was also asked about consistently guarding All-Star-level opponents during the playoffs, a responsibility he has carried throughout the run. He responded, “I think just knowing that it’s a positive in my game and it’s a strong suit of my game. Just using that to my advantage and also just my competitive nature.”
He expanded on his defensive role, saying, “So, if that means guarding the other team’s best player for 40 minutes a night, then that’s what I’ll do.” The Spurs’ defensive assignments have often placed him in high-pressure matchups, including stretches against elite perimeter creators.
Reflecting on the earlier NBA Cup final loss, Castle described the team’s quick reset. “Yeah. Obviously it was a tough loss. It wasn’t season ending. So it doesn’t feel as bad as probably your season ending in the playoffs,” he said. He added, “I mean, we still got paid. I mean, how much did we get paid for that? So, yeah, we moved on pretty quick.”
Castle pointed to the Spurs’ internal growth as a turning point in their season, crediting consistency and leadership. “I just think our consistency and togetherness, it just screamed great habits throughout our locker room,” he said.
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He also highlighted Victor Wembanyama’s influence, noting, “And with our leader being Vic, with how good he is, with how young he is, and for him to not have any ego, I think it just fed great energy throughout our locker room.”
On the defensive mindset against top guards, Castle explained the preparation and discipline required. “Trying to be physical with him,” he said when discussing elite matchups. “Just trying to impose my will and use my physicality to my advantage.”
He also acknowledged how locked-in tendencies can sometimes affect team defense. “Sometimes it gets in the way of me missing a rotation or me not being in the right spot for my teammate because I’d be so locked in on those matchups,” Castle said.
As for managing the physical load of a defensive-heavy role deep into the postseason, he pointed to simplicity and youth. “I mean, I just get in the cold tub. I don’t do nothing crazy,” he said. “I mean, at this point I’m pretty conditioned and my body is used to it. So, and yeah, I’m 21.”
