<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/spurs-news-gregg-popovich-health-update-fires-up-stephon-castle');   ga('set', 'title', 'Gregg Popovich’s health update fires up Spurs, Stephon Castle');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Spurs-news-Gregg-Popovichs-health-update-fires-up-Jeremy-Sochan-Stephon-Castle.jpg"></figure><h1>Gregg Popovich’s health update fires up Spurs, Stephon Castle</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-12-18T20:44:14-08:00">December 18th, 8:44pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-12-18T20:44:14-08:00">December 18th, 8:44pm</time><address><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@LedesmaHector">Hector Ledesma</a>Hector Ledesma has been covering the Spurs in San Antonio since 2005, but he has been following them for even longer than that. An award-winning journalist born and raised in San Antonio, Hector has worked across all types of television and radio platforms. His work extends online and through social media (@HectorLedesmaTV) where he continues that work with ClutchPoints.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>A day after San Antonio Spurs legendary coach <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/spurs-news-gregg-popovich-breaks-silence-after-suffering-stroke-november">Gregg Popovich released a statement</a> for the first time since suffering a mild stroke in early November, two of his players, Jeremy Sochan and Stephon Castle, reacted accordingly. Sochan’s response was, well, Sochan-like, complete with curse words, while Castle’s answer featured a more standard tone – the kind you’d expect from a reigning NCAA national champion.</p><p>“I hope everything’s going well, and he’s working his a** off to get back on that bench,” Sochan said.</p><p>“I don’t know what the team’s reaction to it was,” Castle admitted, “But I’m happy that he’s able to come out with a statement like that to the public.”</p><h2>Players support Popovich’s potential comeback</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Gregg-Popovich-talks-with-guard-Stephon-Castle.jpg"><figcaption>© Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The first part of the first line of the second paragraph of Popovich’s <a href="https://x.com/spurs/status/1868778071010287995?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1868778071010287995%7Ctwgr%5Ea2d614996554823422cb31f629bada85db5e76a4%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwp.clutchpoints.com%2Fwp-admin%2Fpost.php%3Fpost%3D3172024action%3Dedit" rel="noopener">first statement</a> during this prolonged absence opened some eyes.</p><p>“No one is more excited to see me return to the bench than the talented individuals who have been leading my rehabilitation process,” the news release said.</p><p>It wasn’t news to Castle, though, who wouldn’t be surprised if the Hall of Fame coach returned sooner rather than later.</p><p>“That wasn’t a new statement to us; it was to the public, obviously, but he’s been giving us encouragement on his return.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="zxx"><a href="https://t.co/SANMwklGjV">pic.twitter.com/SANMwklGjV</a></p><p>— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) <a href="https://twitter.com/spurs/status/1868778071010287995?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Popovich and the Spurs took the 6-foot-5 rookie from Connecticut with the fourth overall pick in this past draft. Other than their three famed top overall picks (<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/spurs-news-victor-wembanyama-enters-tim-duncan-david-robinson-territory">David Robinson, Tim Duncan and Victor Wembanyama</a>) and the third selection in 1989, which they used to take local legend Sean Elliott, it marked only the fourth time the franchise had ever drafted in the top five.</p><p>Pop spoke highly of Castle to begin the season. And it sounds like the winningest coach in league history is still in some kind of consistent communication with the 20-year-old who’ll probably <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/rookie-year-betting-favorite-after-jared-mccain-injury">make a run at the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award</a>.</p><p>“I know he’s talked to the coaches probably every day. Me, personally, I haven’t talked to him every day, but here and there, he’ll give some encouragement to the team.” Castle, who’s averaging 11.7 points per game, said.</p><p>“We’ve already encouraged Pop throughout this whole process.”</p><p>Taken ninth overall in the 2022 Draft, Sochan was one of Popvich’s projects last season. A forward his entire career, the Hall of Fame coach started the eccentric then 20-year-old at <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/oft-maligned-jeremy-sochan-best-nba-game-ever-suns-upset">point guard to start 2023-2024</a>. It was an effort by the coaching staff to expand a skill set the Spurs consider very versatile. The former Baylor Bear eventually slid back into his forward spot and has been there ever since.</p><p>This season, he’s third on the team in points at 14.7 per game, as well as second in both rebounds (8.5) and steals (1.2) per contest. The two-time NBA Rising Star knows full well that Popovich is keeping tabs on all his players.</p><p>“It gives hope. Knowing Pop, he’s working hard. He’s definitely watching the games, probably trying to stay calm, but not always. It’s good to see that. It makes you smile, it makes you warm.</p><p>75 years old, Popovich added Olympic Gold in 2020 to go along with five NBA championship trophies with the team for which he looks to return.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Gregg Popovich’s health update fires up Spurs, Stephon Castle

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/spurs-news-stephon-castle-gets-real-stepping-up-clutch-moments-san-antonio');   ga('set', 'title', 'Spurs’ Stephon Castle gets real on stepping up in clutch moments');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Stephon-Castle-gets-real-on-stepping-up-in-clutch-moments-for-San-Antonio.jpg"></figure><h1>Spurs’ Stephon Castle gets real on stepping up in clutch moments</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2024-11-26T05:35:34-08:00">November 26th, 5:35am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2024-11-26T05:35:34-08:00">November 26th, 5:35am</time><address><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@LedesmaHector">Hector Ledesma</a>Hector Ledesma has been covering the Spurs in San Antonio since 2005, but he has been following them for even longer than that. An award-winning journalist born and raised in San Antonio, Hector has worked across all types of television and radio platforms. His work extends online and through social media (@HectorLedesmaTV) where he continues that work with ClutchPoints.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>When <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/spurs-news-victor-wembanyama-reveals-blew-past-minutes-restriction-return">Victor Wembanyama says your maturity</a> impresses him, it’s time to take a bow. San Antonio Spurs rookie Stephon Castle might be that special. One thing’s for certain right now. His play down the stretch of close games for the Silver and Black has won has been special.</p><p>“I’ve said many times, he’s playing like he’s much more experienced than he is,” Wemby said of his fellow 20-year-old. “I don’t know where that comes from, but it’s a good thing that we can trust him like that blindly in the fourth quarters.”</p><p>“I don’t think I’ve ever shied away from big moments like that,” Castle told Clutchpoints following a late three-pointer in a win Saturday against the Golden State Warriors.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">“Shying away from it would be doing myself a disservice…”</p><p>Asked Stephon Castle about that deep late 3 last night and if he had predetermined that if Wemby gave it to him, he was going to shoot it. Followed up with wanting the shot in the moment</p><p>Full answers⬇️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Spurs?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Spurs</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PorVida?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PorVida</a> <a href="https://t.co/RncGgjPzuY">pic.twitter.com/RncGgjPzuY</a></p><p>— Hector Ledesma (@HectorLedesmaTV) <a href="https://twitter.com/HectorLedesmaTV/status/1860729066980041071?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2024</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0F0AA7aP0Fo&amp;t=5s" rel="noopener">It served as the latest example</a> of this summer’s fourth overall draft pick’s ability to play well when it matters most.</p><h2>Stephon Castle’s huge shot his last time out</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Golden-State-Warriors-guard-Stephen-Curry-30-dribbles-in-front-of-San-Antonio-Spurs-guard-Stephon-Castle-5.jpg"><figcaption>Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>In rallying from 17 points down to beat the Warriors, the Spurs knocked off the team atop the Western Conference Standings at the time that still sits second.</p><p>“I told him that was the biggest shot of the game,” veteran Spurs guard Chris Paul said of Castle’s three-pointer. “I think it was 90 to 90. That was a big shot, it put us 93 to 90.”</p><p>The 27-foot bomb came on a hand-off from Wembanyama after the ball had just crossed half-court.</p><p>“It was more than just in the moment. I wasn’t really thinking that,” Castle responded to Clutchpoints’ question about whether he had predetermined that he was going to let it fly if given the ball then and there.</p><p>“I mean, I was hoping for a foul. I think I got elbowed in the face the possession right before. It was a big play. I’m happy to see it go down, but just more happy about the trust my teammates have in me taking those shots,” the national champion with the UConn Huskies continued.</p><p>“Just knowing him, he just turned 20 and he acts like he’s a 39-year-old,” Paul said, alluding to his own age. “He’s just really calm and really confident and the only that you can be that confident is if you put in the work and he does it day in and day out.”</p><p>Defensively, Castle chased one of Paul’s former teammates around for the better part of that win against Golden State. It wasn’t the first time he guarded the opponent’s top perimeter player nor the first time he played well down the stretch.</p><p>“Playing against guys that I’ve been watching since I was a little kid to have the ball in my hands in that moment, I felt that’s something only a rookie could ask for,” Castle, who also helped keep Steph Curry in check Saturday, added.</p><p>“Shying away from it would be doing myself a disservice. I mean, just the confidence that I have in myself and my teammates to take that shot was the reason why I took it. And it felt good.”</p><p>Sounds a lot like another young high draft pick who plays for the Spurs. And to hear Wemby – he’s more than happy to have a partner in crime in moments that ultimately define stars.</p><p>“He had something going on. I could feel it, I think everyone could feel it. He was super locked in. I have a blind trust in him.”</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
11.6	2.6	3.8	0.4	0.9

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
11.6	2.6	3.8	0.4	0.9

Stephon Castle

Latest Stephon Castle News

Gregg Popovich’s health update fires up Spurs, Stephon Castle

Spurs’ Stephon Castle gets real on stepping up in clutch moments

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