Stephon Castle Shines in Rising Stars Game, Eyes More Glory
In the vibrant city of San Francisco, the NBA All-Star Weekend kicked off with a bang, and the spotlight was firmly on Stephon Castle, the rookie sensation from the San Antonio Spurs. Castle, who has already made waves in his debut season, added another feather to his cap by clinching the Rising Stars MVP trophy on Friday night. But if you think that’s the only accolade he’s aiming for this weekend, think again.
Castle was instrumental in leading Team C, under the guidance of coach Chris Mullin, to a commanding 25-14 victory over Team G League, coached by Jeremy Lin, in the final showdown. His performance was nothing short of spectacular, scoring 11 points and dishing out one of his three assists to Keyonte George of the Utah Jazz, who nailed the game-winning 3-pointer.
Team C’s journey to the final was marked by a thrilling win in their first group game, where Castle’s decisive jump shot sealed a 40-34 victory over Team T, coached by Tim Hardaway Sr. The format of the games was unique, with the first two games requiring teams to reach a target score of 40, while the final was capped at 25 points.
“To be a part of the game-winning bucket in both, it means a lot,” Castle reflected, his excitement palpable.
The Rising Stars game featured a mix of three teams composed of seven first- and second-year players, alongside a fourth team of seven G Leaguers. This event was just the beginning of a packed schedule for Castle, who is also set to compete in the dunk contest on Saturday night. When quizzed about his plans for the dunk showcase, Castle teased, “I don’t want to spoil anything, but I’ll just say the MVP trophy isn’t the only trophy I’m trying to take home.”
Castle’s triumph in the Rising Stars game has earned his team a spot in Sunday’s All-Star Game, where they will face off against Shaq’s OGs. This team boasts future Hall of Famers like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant.
“As a basketball player, it’s really all I can ask for, watching those guys all the time growing up, so to share my first All-Star Weekend with them and be able to share the court with them is a blessing,” Castle shared with ESPN.
Castle joins the ranks of players like Blake Griffin, who in 2011 as a rookie for the LA Clippers, participated in events on all three nights of All-Star Weekend.
The All-Star Game will adopt a similar format to Friday’s event, with four teams of eight players competing in a mini-tournament. The semifinals and final will both have a target score of 40. This change comes after the past two All-Star Games were criticized for lacking defense and competitive spirit, prompting the league to revamp the format to reignite interest in the February festivities.
“We’re out there with nothing to lose,” Castle said confidently when asked about his team’s chances against the Shaquille O’Neal-coached squad, which includes stars like James Harden, Damian Lillard, Jayson Tatum, Kyrie Irving, and Jaylen Brown. “We’re out there playing confident, playing free. So, I just wouldn’t count us out.”
Coaching duties for Team C will transition from Mullin to Candace Parker for Sunday’s game. Parker, acting as the team’s general manager, selected Amen Thompson from Team M, coached by Mitch Richmond, to complete her roster.
Team G League’s path to the Rising Stars final was marked by an upset over Team M in the second group-play game. Bryce McGowen of the Rip City Remix hit a clutch 3-pointer to secure a 40-39 victory. This dramatic finish was made possible by Ausar Thompson of the Detroit Pistons missing four consecutive free throws with his team stuck at 37 points.
For their efforts, Castle and his Team C teammates pocketed $35,000 each for Friday’s win and now have the opportunity to earn bragging rights against some of their veteran NBA counterparts on Sunday.
- Dalton Knecht of the Los Angeles Lakers
- Ryan Dunn of the Phoenix Suns
- Trayce Jackson-Davis of the Golden State Warriors
These players will face off against the likes of James, Durant, and Curry. “I’m playing against Bron, so I get to go against one of my teammates,” Knecht said. “It’ll be a lot of fun to go out there and try to make a statement.”
When asked if any trash talk will be exchanged between the 40-year-old James and the 23-year-old Knecht, the Lakers rookie quipped, “I usually don’t start it. I usually don’t start talking. I usually try to finish it.”
Originally Written by: Dave McMenamin
