It Takes A Castle: Spurs Rookie Stephon Castle's On-Court Impact Begins Off It

Stephon Castle’s basketball journey, shaped by lifelong relationships from high school to the NBA, has prepared him for a bright future with the Spurs.

Feb 6, 2024; Hartford, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies guard Stephon Castle (5) watches from the sideline as his teammates warm up before the start of a game against the Butler Bulldogs. | David Butler II-Imagn Images

SAN ANTONIO — Before the 8:15 a.m. bell rang at Newton High School in Covington, Ga., Stephon Castle and Jakai Newton found themselves in Barry Browner's classroom.

"Coach B," as they knew him, taught online credit recovery alongside his role as an assistant coach for the Rams. His room wasn't much; for the two juniors, it was a daily must-stop.

"We got real tight with Browner," Newton said. "We would always go in his class, joking on him and having moments together. We would talk about anything — basketball, outside the court, whatever."

If it was Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, the pair suffered through a 60-minute first period immediately after their visit with Browner. On Friday, first period was 10 minutes shorter. Regardless of the day, practice followed.

The trio would then reunite in the school's blue-and-white-coated gym to prepare for another game with GHSA implications. The regimen felt long at times, but it helped having Browner there to work out and cut up with.

“We looked at him as more than just our coach," Castle said. "We could talk to him about anything. To have that kind of connection with the guy that’s calling our plays, it meant a lot.” 

Browner's relationship with the two guards was formed on the basketball court, but as Castle's story goes, it flourished outside of it.

The 10-minute car ride back from practice was a perfect example.

"Steph and Jakai would ride home with me every day," Browner explained. "That's when I really got to know those guys beyond coaching ... learn what they thought about certain things."

Stephon Castle (left) and Jakai Newton (right) look at the scoreboard during a game with AAU squad Atlanta Xpress. | Photo courtesy of Jakai Newton

Those drives, much like Newton and Castle's morning visits, were short, yet fulfilling for all three of them. They also only had one destination.

When high school came around, both boys moved into new houses. Suddenly, they were closer than ever before. They had to be, especially living in the same cul-de-sac.

"Steph was my neighbor," Newton said. "He moved right across the street."

The Knights

Jakai Newton couldn't remember when exactly it was that he met Stephon Castle. The pair had known each other since they were little, and for as long as they could recall, they were playing basketball. That much was certain.

Luckily, Castle still has the smaller details ironed out.

"I met Jakai in second grade," he said. "We were in the same class, and that’s been my brother ever since. I remember going to our first basketball practice — we didn’t even know we were going to be on the same team — and I ended up seeing him there."

That part of the story checked out. As Newton recalled, it was his first "real" AAU experience, and both he and Castle were there to give it a chance. At a church, no less.

"Yeah," Newton said. "The Knights."

The Knights, at their first official practice, lined up on the baseline. First up? High knees.

"I looked to my right," Newton recalled. "I saw Steph there, and I was like: 'This dude is from my class, who I'm cool with.'"

From that point on, the pair clicked. Whether it was high knees, math class or, eventually, trips to get food in high school and rides home with Coach B, they were inseparable.

"We did everything together," Newton said.

They even won an AAU championship together.

A second-grade Stephon Castle (left) and Jakai Newton (right) hoisting a trophy after their first season in AAU, which they played together. | Photo courtesy of Jakai Newton

As Castle and Newton grew older, basketball remained at the center of their bond. By the time they reached high school and became across-the-street neighbors, their friendship had turned into a constant game. Castle had his basketball hoop in his backyard, while Newton's was in the cul-de-sac.

"It was one of the best cul-de-sacs you've ever heard of," Castle's mother, Quan, said.

A constant stream of one-on-ones was all the pair got up to, no matter whose hoop they used.

"You always knew where to find the other one," Browner said. "If Steph wasn't at Jakai's house, Jakai was as Steph's house. It was really special to see the love they had for each other."

"They were two talented guys," he added, "and they pushed each other."

How far can two best friends push each other before they lose their cool?

Based on pickup games alone, moot point.

"We just went hard at each other," Newton said. "Our trash talk was more before we played and after we played, but during the game, we were both locked in."

From the outside, Castle and Newton's bond was palpable. Once you got closer, it was clear just how important they were to each other — they were like family.

"They are family," Browner said, correcting me. "It's almost comical ... they're the best of friends. They're more than teammates."

Their respective families were just as close.

---

Castle’s basketball journey seemed to be a perfect storm, thanks in large part to the guidance both he and Newton both received from Castle’s father, Stacey, who served as one of their first AAU coaches.

Through their adolescence, Stacey coached the boys, imparting the wisdom he gained from his own career playing for both Wake Forest and UCF.

The former carried extra weight — Stacey was one of Tim Duncan’s teammates. He might not have outplayed the eventual San Antonio Spurs legend, but he played with him for one season.

"I've heard a few good stories," Steph said of his dad's lore in his introductory press conference for the Spurs, "but the ‘outplaying’ part? That didn’t get to me yet.”

Winston-Salem, NC, USA; FILE PHOTO; Wake Forest center Tim Duncan (21) in action against Duke forward Cherokee Parks (right) at the LJVC Coliseum. | Photo By Imagn Images

It likely never will. Even if you were to rack the brains of Newton and Steph, you might not find a story like that. Newton, however, has plenty of his own.

"Uncle Stacey," he said. "Man, he's for sure one of the best coaches I've ever had."

READ MORE: Stephon Castle's Fitting Connection to Tim Duncan

What made him such was how hard he was on the boys. He didn't believe in "daddy ball," as Newton put it. He definitely wasn't known for giving out free passes, either.

"If we messed up, he would get on us just as hard as anybody else," Newton said. "Even worse sometimes."

Stacey was known to get kicked out of games for being fired up, and Steph faced the brunt of it at times — his father admitted to that.

“I was hard on him," Stacey said. "He had some resistance, some pouting, but he was still young, and he grew out of it quickly. That’s when I knew that he had a chance to be OK. I knew he wasn’t going to run from being coached."

Stephon Castle (left) and Jakai Newton (right) shake hands during high school at the Newton High School gym before getting shots up. | Photo courtesy of Jakai Newton

So, he kept at it. Steph and Newton did, too, continuing to play backyard ball after practices and train with Stacey whenever they could, even long after he was their active coach.

"I learned so much from just listening to him and watching him coach," Newton said. "I've never had a coach with that type of passion."

As atypical a coaching style as Stacey had, it was commonplace for both boys. And between him and Browner, both felt over-prepared for the college recruiting process. They'd tell you so.

So would Dan Hurley, who had the "easy" job of pitching UConn to Steph.

Sacrifices

Nov. 9, 2022 was the day Stephon Castle and Jakai Newton had to think about saying goodbye.

It was signing day at Newton, and the pair headlined the list of commits set to decide on their basketball futures. Newton had Indiana on his mind; Castle had the Huskies on his. Once Castle decided that was his path, Hurley and Co. got to work.

"Because he committed so early," Hurley said, "we watched him so much throughout high school and AAU. We were close to his parents, who are from close-to-UConn, so it was an easy connection."

For Castle, the choice was almost as simple. Being recruited by one of the top programs in the country wasn't anything he took for granted, and he certainly liked the sound of playing under Hurley. His parents did, too.

“We could not have picked a better school for him," Quan Castle said. "I (told) Coach Hurley: 'Push him as hard as you can. You’re not going to receive a phone call from me.'"

As Hurley recalled, his parents wanted Steph at a place like UConn as much as he did, which made the transition smoother.

"He's a great kid raised incredibly well," Hurley said.

To add on to everything else, Steph was "vice-free," which made the partnership seem heaven-sent from the get-go. Before the basketball began, however, expectations needed to be set:

Steph was going to need to switch from being a primary ball-handler to an off-ball combo guard.

READ MORE: Stephon Castle Knows Winning, Has Chance To Keep At It

"He knew I wanted to play the 1," Castle explained, "but in order for us to win, I had to sacrifice. He let me know that early, and I didn’t second-guess his decisions at all."

Hurley's reasoning? It was what the Huskies needed.

"The recruiting pitch was: 'You're going to get your opportunities on the ball, but we need you to help us win a championship,'" Hurley said. "It wasn't a hard conversation."

Castle agreed with that assessment.

"He was always super authentic with me," he said. "I trusted him with everything."

Apr 8, 2024; Glendale, AZ, USA; Connecticut Huskies coach Dan Hurley celebrates with guard Stephon Castle (5) in the second half against the Purdue Boilermakers in the national championship game of the Final Four of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at State Farm Stadium. | Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

UConn's coach commended the freshman's poise in handling the jump to the collegiate level, just as he had in his recruiting process. For Castle, it wasn't a difficult concept to understand. There were two things at play: One, you had to trust your coach, and two, you had to earn your way onto the court.

"I had to do the same thing in high school when I was in ninth grade," Castle recalled. "Every level you have to start over. You’re not always going to be the guy on your team. You have to find your way onto the court and build from there.”

As Castle began to find success, UConn showed early signs of a team polished enough to make a run at a second straight NCAA title. That was first on Castle's mind, but it wasn't long before a new development hit the horizon.

The latest installment of Newton and Castle's childhood rivalry was on the docket.

"We ended up getting a game on the schedule," Newton said, explaining that both he and Castle had lobbied for UConn and Indiana to face each other in non-conference play. "You knew we were going to talk to trash to each other."

That was the plan, at least.

The Hoosiers and Huskies were scheduled to play, yet neither Newton or Castle suited up. Newton underwent surgery over the offseason for a knee injury dating back to his senior year, while Castle was dealing with something similar — albeit less significant.

As a result, the long-awaited matchup was simply just another game, though for both, the sentiment of representing collegiate teams still hit home.

"It was really crazy," Newton said. "Going from growing up playing with each other all the time to playing against each other on the second-highest stage? Crazy."

UConn ended up beating Indiana winning in blowout fashion, 77-57, and continued its trek toward the national championship. Castle went along for the ride, showcasing everything Hurley had hoped to see from him.

"He impacted winning," Hurley said. "In a variety of ways: His defense, his ability to create off the dribble, improved shooting ... how hard he played. He plays hard as s***."

Feb 17, 2024; Hartford, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies guard Stephon Castle (5) drives then ball against Marquette Golden Eagles forward Ben Gold (12) in the second half at XL Center. | David Butler II-Imagn Images

With 12 minutes to go in the second half of the Huskies' Final Four matchup against the Alabama Crimson Tide, Castle had perhaps his biggest chance to impact winning.

The Tide, playing from behind all game, had it knotted at 56 points a piece. Cam Spencer — UConn's minutes leader on the evening — had the ball in the half court, and put up a shot to try and generate some positive momentum heading into the final 10 minutes.

He missed, yet it was Castle under the rim who notched an offensive rebound and drew the foul at the same time on the put-back shot. He went to the free-throw line with a chance to take the lead.

He made both. Suddenly, Newton's words echoed.

"Steph is real cool on the court," he'd said. "It ain't nothing. You really can't get under his game."

Castle responded with a made jumper of his own on the next possession, and UConn took a six-point lead that it rode to the final buzzer, beating the Tide with a matchup against Zach Edey and the Purdue Boilermakers waiting. The freshman led UConn in scoring with 21.

In the title game, Castle notched another 15 as the Huskies became back-to-back champions.

"Most freshmen played in a manner that got their team eliminated in the tournament," Hurley said. "Steph? Without Steph, we don't win it. We don't have a chance of winning."

Connecticut Huskies guard Stephon Castle (5) cuts the basketball net after winning the Men's NCAA national championship game against the Purdue Boilermakers at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on April 8, 2024. | Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

After that game, it was clear how strong a player Castle was. He was only a freshman, but he carried himself maturely and left UConn a champion. Did it matter that he'd played a different role than he was used to?

Not in the slightest.

"It helped us out in the long run," Castle said of Hurley's decision to play him out of position. "We ended up winning it all, so I can’t thank him enough for what he did for me there.” 

Though Castle had to adjust to a new role, there was a slight caveat to Hurley's initial recruitment pitch. While he intended to use the guard in a way that would help the Huskies, he also planned for it to serve as a proof to NBA franchises that his player could impact winning.

As long as he'd been watching Castle before UConn, the Spurs had been watching for longer.

'You Deserve It'

A glimmering Silver & Black suit with a palm-sized pendant on NBA Draft night is certainly a bold choice for a rookie who could be headed anywhere.

Stephon Castle, to this point, was used to being near the top. He was a highly rated recruit when Dan Hurley scoped him out at Newton High School, and again, his name sat near the top of the lottery as he awaited his fate inside Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Right with him was Hurley, who accompanied both Castle and UConn center Donovan Clingan to the green room as they waited to hear their names called.

"I’m happy he was there for us, Castle said. "He was there all season, so for all of our hard work to pay off, and then for it to show on that night ... it was a big moment.”

Jun 26, 2024; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Stephon Castle arrives for the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. | Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The Atlanta Hawks had the first pick. Behind them, the Washington Wizards, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons stood waiting. Castle had no hints as to where he might end up.

"We were very nervous," Hurley said, speaking on behalf of the Huskies. "You're hopeful that your players are going to get picked by certain organizations because some of them are better than others in terms of giving a player a chance to succeed his career."

That might be more of an unspoken truth, but it told the story of the evening. Atlanta went with Frenchman Zaccharie Risacher, and Alexandre Sarr followed, en route to The District.

Castle, sitting on the floor, recalled the words Hurley had spoken to him and Clingan just before the ceremony began.

"I just remember Coach telling us to enjoy it," he said. "He said: 'You’re here for a reason. You deserve it. You worked your asses off.'"

Jun 26, 2024; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Connecticut Huskies head coach coach Dan Hurley talks to Stephon Castle (left) and Donovan Clingan (right) before the start of the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. | Brad Penner-Imagn Images

With the No. 3 overall pick, Houston went with Reed Sheppard — the first guard off the board.

Castle was the second, selected with the fourth pick. Now, his Silver & Black suit made sense.

"We all wanted the Spurs to pick him," Hurley said. "For a very long time, players have gone there and have won championships ... that's all you want."

READ MORE: Stephon Castle, With Humility, Ready For Rookie Season

Clingan, who watched his teammate go first before being drafted by Portland at No. 7, echoed his coach's excitement.

"I'm really proud of Steph," he said. "To come in and do what he did ... that's very hard to do as a freshman. I love that kid to death. I'm extremely happy for him. I'll be his biggest fan this year."

Castle, hugging his family and making his way to the stage, shook Adam Silver's hand and joined the legion of Spurs drafted with hopes of kickstarting their carers. His first phone call?

Jakai Newton.

"I called him before the draft, too," Castle said, "but I was just talking to my brother like usual. We envisioned this from back when we were in middle school, so, just to see it come into reality, it was a heartfelt moment for both of us.” 

A proud Newton answered — planning to return to Indiana after injuries forced him to redshirt his freshman year — and the pair celebrated.

Castle was going to be a Spur, joining an organization with a rich history of developing players. "Serious people," as Hurley called them.

"No one else was putting in that type of effort," Hurley said. "They really did their research."

---

Apart from every other collegiate program on their radar, San Antonio had multiple prospects to choose from at UConn, yet it was an 18-year-old Castle who caught its eye. Why was that?

Turns out, the same reason Hurley used Castle the way he did: He impacted winning.

"He's (got) a quiet, stoic type of personality," Spurs general manager Brian Wright said of Castle. "You try to pick up little things that tell you about him as a teammate ... his ability to sacrifice for the betterment of the team is something that stood out to us."

Wright praised Hurley's ability to create a team-first environment that lent itself to making sacrifices. That was a good starting point, but the kind of player Castle promised to be meant he wasn't going to stop doing so when he got to the NBA level.

In fact, he knew would only grow under Hall-of-Fame coach Gregg Popovich.

"I feel like this is a position that any basketball player would want to be in," Castle said during his introductory press conference. "To play for two high-level coaches like that. I'm excited to be able to play for him."

Castle's first stop was Las Vegas. There, he played under Spurs video coordinator Kenny Trevino and showed flashes of the player he was capable of becoming, notching 22 points, five rebounds, four assists and a steal in the lone game he appeared in.

A minor injury the Spurs treated cautiously kept him sidelined for the remainder of the summer slate, but not before Trevino had time to praise his potential.

"He's a stoic person," he said. "Even-keeled. Any mistake he makes, he doesn't show it too much, which is a good thing. When he starts to play well, we'll see some of that emotion."

Jul 13, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) is fouled by Portland Trail Blazers forward Alex Reese (64) during the second quarter at Thomas & Mack Center. | Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Despite not having a direct line to Popovich, yet, Castle impressed him as well, making "wonderful decisions" in practice and on the floor with his pace and his versatility. That was the lasting impression he made on his coach heading into training camp ahead of the regular season.

When that time came around, things were going to look different. More serious. But was much going to change? Not according to Newton. Not after playing under Stacey Castle.

To him, Castle had it all under control.

"All that yelling," Newton said. "That's not going to get under his skin."

'That's My Brother'

Stephon Castle was added to the Spurs' team group chat almost immediately.

It wasn't much to begin with, and the ice certainly had to be broken between the additions of him, Harrison Ingram — San Antonio's other rookie — and the two veterans in Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes.

Blake Wesley is the most active voice in it, and as all the younger players will tell you, it's largely been him keeping Barnes and Paul "young."

Barnes might object to that.

"It's been lively," he said, coyly. "I don't want to take all the credit for it, but I definitely stirred the pot early."

Was it Barnes who also started the group chat that excluded Castle? The one where a plot was devised to prank the rookie and "make him pay" for a team dinner? That one isn't known.

Castle might've moved quicker than his teammates had ever seen him move that night, they joked. Luckily for him, he didn't actually have to front the bill.

"I’m pretty close with everybody," Castle said afterward. "Keldon’s helped me a lot. Vic. CP. HB. I’ve been taking a little bit from everybody. They’ve been here before, so they clearly know what they’re talking about.”

READ MORE: Stephon Castle Impresses Spurs with Versatility, 'Own Pace'

When the first film session of the season came around — when Popovich became all-business — the team remained close. The more Castle played, the more praise he received.

"He's strong as hell," Paul said. "It's cool to see, and good for us."

“I see him fitting (in) very well,” Spurs star Victor Wembanyama added. “I’ve seen exponential progression from him from one practice to the other. The way he learns is pretty impressive.” 

Oct 7, 2024; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) during the first half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Frost Bank Center. | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

After playing in open runs and scrimmages, the bar was set high for his initial preseason game. Castle didn't shine right away, tallying just five points and six turnovers against the Oklahoma City Thunder, but he was clearly working to improve.

"You can tell that he’s learning and receiving," Spurs center Zach Collins said. "You can see him processing things on the court."

He didn't say much, but he didn't have to.

“Yeah," he said when asked if he'd always been soft-spoken. "Especially right away. I like to observe first. Coming in, your word has to be respected, so I'm just trying to earn that respect. Then, I can figure out what to say.

“If I’m saying the wrong thing, I’m talking for no reason.” 

So, Castle kept watching and learning.

"Obviously he’s young, but he wants to be great," Barnes said. "He carries himself like he’s 26. His game. His feel. Doesn’t really get sped up too much. Has great poise about him."

With that came more praise.

"Everyone can agree here that defense wins championships," Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan added. "Everyone has to play defense, and he came in as a defender. He’s been proving that."

READ MORE: Stephon Castle Speaks on Spurs' Defensive Mindset

In Game 2 of preseason, everything reached a head. Castle, in 22 minutes, notched 17 points, four assists, two rebounds and a pair of steals.

“I feel like I took a step forward,” the rookie said.

In Game 3, that continued, Castle notched an efficient 11 points in San Antonio's second straight win. He once again kept his pace, and was looking to be as NBA-ready as he'd been touted to be. His practices with Hurley had paid off; his future was looking up as the regular season approached.

That's when the moment of reflection came.

---

Stephon Castle and I sat on a padded bench inside the Spurs' practice facility during training camp. Minutes prior, he'd walked over from the other side of the gym, unaware of what we'd be discussing.

Hearing Jakai Newton's name, his expression changed.

"That's my brother," he said. "I always be talking to him."

Jakai told the same story; the pair "always hit each other."

As Castle and I watched practice, the rest of his teammates continued running drills, putting shots up. The overhead lights were on, yet natural light from eight large windows spanning the width of the two courts seeped in. Five of them were partially covered by white banners.

"NBA CHAMPIONS," they read, depicting each year the Spurs had reached the mountaintop. The other three remained empty, waiting for the year when they, too, would be covered.

Castle was going to play a big part in that effort. And he knew it.

"Forever," he said when asked how long playing it'd been a dream of his to reach the NBA. “Ever since I started playing, growing up watching my idols.”

Those idols were The Slim Reaper, The Mamba, Brodie, Chef Curry and King James. They were the names Castle and Jakai watched as a kid. The players they hoped to be.

Sitting on that bench, it was clear Castle now had that chance.

"To be here now, it’s super surreal," he said. "It’s a blessing. I will never forget about the people who helped me along the journey.” 

Sep 30, 2024; San Antonio, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs Stephon Castle (5) photos for photos during Media day at Victory Capital Performance Center in San Antonio. | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

Naming those people was easy.

Barry Browner came first, as the coach who stood by Castle throughout his college recruitment process. The man who drove him and Jakai home from practice. Who gave the pair a hangout spot every morning before first period.

Browner was especially proud of the heights Castle reached.

"Kids from Georgia," Browner said, "Steph is the standard for them. He's a hometown hero. Covington is a small place, but there wasn't a TV that wasn't tuned in to the draft ... he's a legend in our book."

Second was Hurley. The coach who preached sacrifice and demanded greatness.

"Steph is a warrior," Hurley said. "He's not going to run from the expectations of winning."

Hurley was the one who gave Castle a taste of life at the top, and as the rookie remembers it, their exchange on draft night included one phrase: "Was it worth it?"

After everything, it seemed to be. It wasn't just Castle who benefited.

"Coaching gives you a sense of purpose," Hurley said. "It's not just that you play a part in players getting drafted. You're a part of generations of families being impacted in a positive way."

"Seeing these guys grow up," he added. "Seeing them develop habits that are going to make them successful as men ... it's what makes coaching addictive."

Then there was Jakai. Castle's childhood best friend and brother.

“Going through all the challenges throughout high school," Castle began, "to have him alongside me, knowing he was going to have my back no matter what, it definitely helped."

Jakai was there when Castle began his basketball journey with the Knights. He was there when Hurley called, and was the first to know it was the Spurs on the other end of Castle's line on draft night.

Jakai was also the first to say that Castle stood no chance in a present-day one-on-one.

"I know he's in the league and all that," he said, "but he ain't seeing me right now."

Indiana's Jakai Newton (0) answers questions from the media during Indiana basketball's media day at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. | Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Lastly, Castle named his family. The ones who were set to pack Frost Bank Center whenever they could: Stacey; Quan; his older brother, Quenton; and his younger sister, Staci.

"San Antonio is gonna be flooded with the Castles," Browner said.

As Castle and I finished up, I had just one more question to ask. It was vague.

What does basketball mean to you?

For Castle, answering that came the easiest.

“Everything," he said. "This is what’s going to change my life. It changed my family’s life. It’s the sport I grew up playing, and grew to love. I’ve been playing it my whole life. I’ve dedicated and sacrificed so many things for it, and it means the world to me.” 

Castle and I shook hands; he returned to practice. As far as he was concerned, that was home. San Antonio was where he felt comfortable.

It was also where he was set to flourish. And that much was exciting, for him and me. Yet his NBA journey lay still ahead.

“To be in this position," Castle said. "I couldn’t have asked for anything else.”