By Tom Orsborn, Staff writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2025-01-28 14:29:49
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
1月17日星期五，在圣安东尼奥进行的一场NBA篮球比赛中，圣安东尼奥马刺队的斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(Stephon Castle)（5号）在上半场对阵孟菲斯灰熊队的扎克·埃迪(Zach Edey)（14号）完成扣篮后挂在篮筐上。
马刺队喜爱新秀斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(Stephon Castle)的防守能力。
“他拥有成为一名非常高效防守者的身体素质和防守技能，”代理主教练米奇·约翰逊(Mitch Johnson)说道。“他已经在年轻的时候展现出了这一点。对他来说，就是要持续关注细节、不断练习和在实践中学习。”
但下个月的全明星周末，卡斯尔比赛的另一个方面将得到展现：他的弹跳力。
卡斯尔周二训练后表示，他已被选中参加下个月在旧金山举行的全明星周末扣篮大赛。
据报道，奥兰多魔术队的麦克·麦克朗(Mac McClung)，这项赛事的两届卫冕冠军；芝加哥公牛队新秀马塔斯·布泽利斯(Matas Buzelis)；以及密尔沃基雄鹿队的安德烈·杰克逊二世(Andre Jackson Jr.)是其他参赛者。
20岁的卡斯尔表示，他“超级兴奋”能够参加这项他从小在佐治亚州就一直观看的比赛。
“现在能够参与其中，我肯定会很开心，尤其还能和一些我认识的人一起，”卡斯尔说道，并指出他曾在2023年麦当劳全美扣篮大赛中与布泽利斯交手，那场比赛的冠军是布朗尼·詹姆斯(Bronny James)。
在许多老将对参加全明星周末缺乏兴趣的时候，卡斯尔表示接受扣篮邀请对他来说是“理所当然”的。
“我觉得现在人们都在谈论球星不想参加扣篮大赛，那些大牌球员每年都会拒绝邀请，但这给了我们这些年轻球员展示自己的机会，”他说道。
对于卡斯尔来说，这将是一个忙碌的全明星周末，他上赛季帮助康涅狄格大学赢得了NCAA全国冠军。NBA周二宣布，他和马刺队的二年级中锋维克多·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)都将参加新秀挑战赛。
2月14日举行的这项年度赛事将以一个由四支球队组成的锦标赛形式进行，共进行三场比赛。这是马刺队历史上第四次有多名球员入选新秀挑战赛，也是连续第二个赛季出现这种情况。去年在印第安纳波利斯，杰里米·索汉(Jeremy Sochan)与文班亚马一起参加了比赛。
卡斯尔参加新秀挑战赛意味着他也可以参加新的四人三赛制全明星锦标赛，该锦标赛将由三支各由八名全明星球员组成的球队参加，第四支球队是新秀挑战赛的获胜者。
全明星周末定于2月14日至16日举行。预计文班将在周四公布替补全明星阵容时被联盟教练选中。
“我觉得这是一个很好的机会，”卡斯尔说道。“我对新赛制不太了解，但能够与全明星球员交手对年轻球员来说绝对是一个很好的机会。”
卡斯尔的队友们渴望看到他将在扣篮大赛中展现哪些动作。卡斯尔拒绝透露他的计划，包括他是否会使用任何道具。
“我不知道他会拿出什么招数，”德文·瓦塞尔(Devin Vassell)说道。“他只是在热身时就拿出了一些疯狂的东西，所以我只能想象他会在扣篮大赛中尝试做什么。”
瓦塞尔说，卡斯尔在飞向篮筐前以缓慢的速度运作的能力是独一无二的。
“他很冷静，很冷静，然后，砰的一声，他不知从哪里就爆发了，”瓦塞尔说道。“这简直不可思议。”
波波维奇庆祝76岁生日
周二，名人堂教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)迎来了76岁生日，球员们都记挂着他。
波波维奇是NBA历史上胜场最多的教练，自从11月2日突发轻微中风以来，他一直远离马刺队。在他缺席期间，助理教练约翰逊一直担任代理主教练。
“我们都祝愿他早日康复，”瓦塞尔说道。“我一直听到好消息，所以我为他感到高兴。我希望一切都好。我一直在为他祈祷。”
瓦塞尔说，他在波波维奇康复期间与他通过电话。马刺队在11月的一份声明中表示，预计波波维奇将完全康复。
波波维奇在12月发表的一份声明中暗示，他计划重返教练岗位。
“没有人比那些一直在指导我康复过程的优秀人才更希望看到我重返教练席，”波波维奇说道。“他们很快就意识到我很难被指导。”
瓦塞尔说他与波波维奇通过电话。
“我知道他喜欢对所有事情保密，所以我会对我们谈话的内容保密，”瓦塞尔说道。
波波维奇执教马刺队已进入第29个年头，他在康复期间缺席了38场比赛。马刺队在这段时间内的战绩是18胜20负。
NBA重新安排因野火推迟的比赛
NBA周二宣布，本月早些时候因南加州野火而推迟的马刺队对阵洛杉矶湖人队的比赛现在将于3月17日进行。
这场比赛原定于1月11日进行，但由于联盟不想占用用于扑灭洛杉矶地区几处社区的毁灭性大火的资源而被推迟。
由于马刺队将于3月17日客场挑战湖人队，马刺队原定于当天主场迎战奥兰多魔术队的比赛现在已被移至4月1日。
DENVER, COLORADO - JANUARY 03: Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs dunks on the Denver Nuggets in the first quarter at Ball Arena on January 03, 2025 in Denver, Colorado.
San Antonio Spurs’ Stephon Castle, top, reacts after dunking the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in New York.
点击查看原文：Castle 'super excited' about slam dunk competition
Castle ‘super excited’ about slam dunk competition
San Antonio Spurs’ Stephon Castle (5) hangs from the rim after dunking against Memphis Grizzlies’ Zach Edey (14) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, in San Antonio.
The Spurs love rookie Stephon Castle’s defensive skills.
“He has the physical traits and skill set defensively to be a very effective defender," acting head coach Mitch Johnson said. “He’s already shown flashes of that at a young age. With him, it’s just continued attention to detail and reps and learning on the job.”
But next month during All-Star Weekend another aspect of Castle’s game will be showcased: His hops.
Castle said after practice Tuesday he has been selected to compete in the Slam Dunk Contest during All-Star Weekend next month in San Francisco.
Orlando’s Mac McClung, the two-time defending champion of the event; Chicago rookie Matas Buzelis; and Milwaukee’s Andre Jackson Jr. reportedly are the other participants.
Castle, 20, said he’s “super excited” to be part of a competition he has watched since he was a kid in Georgia.
“It’s going to be fun to be a part of it now, for sure, especially with some people I know too,” said Castle, noting that he competed against Buzelis in the 2023 McDonald’s All-American Dunk Contest won by Bronny James.
At a time when many veterans are displaying a lack of interest in participating in All-Star Weekend, Castle said it was a “no-brainer” for him to accept the slam dunk invitation.
“I feel like nowadays people talk about the stars not wanting to be in a dunk contest, the bigger name guys kind of turning it down every year, but I feel like it just gives opportunities for us younger guys to showcase what we can do,” he said.
The contest will be part of a busy All-Star Weekend for Castle, who helped Connecticut win the national championship as a freshman last season. The NBA announced Tuesday that both he and Spurs second-year center Victor Wembanyama will participate in the Rising Stars competition.
The annual showcase on Feb. 14 will feature a four-team tournament consisting of three total games. It’s the fourth time in franchise history that the Spurs have multiple Rising Stars on the roster and the second time to happen in back-to-back seasons. Jeremy Sochan joined Wembanyama last year in Indianapolis.
Castle’s participation in the Rising Stars means he could also play in the new four-team, three-game All-Star tournament that will feature three teams of eight All-Stars apiece, with the fourth team being the winner of the Rising Stars.
All-Star Weekend is set for Feb. 14-16. Wembanyama is expected to be selected by the league’s coaches as a reserve All-Star when that unit is announced Thursday.
“I feel like it’s a great opportunity,” Castle said. “I don’t really know too much about the new format but to be able to play against the All-Stars is definitely a great opportunity for the young guys.”
Castle’s teammates are eager to see what moves he will unveil for the dunk contest. Castle declined to reveal his plans, including whether he will use any props.
“I don’t know what he’s going to pull out,” Devin Vassell said. “He pulls out some crazy stuff just in warmup, so I can only imagine what he’s going to try and do in the slam dunk contest.”
Castle’s ability to operate at a slow pace before rocketing to the rim is unique, Vassell said.
“He’s chillin’, chillin’ and then, boom, just out of nowhere he just explodes,” Vassell said. “Doesn’t make no sense.”
Popovich marks 76th birthday
Gregg Popovich was on the minds of the players as the Hall of Fame coach turned 76 Tuesday.
Popovich, the NBA’s all-time winningest coach, has been away from the Spurs since he suffered what the team termed a mild stroke Nov. 2. In his absence, Johnson, an assistant, has served as the acting head coach.
“We’re all wishing him a speedy recovery,” Vassell said. “I’m always hearing good things, so I’m excited for him. I’m hoping everything is good. He’s always in my prayers.”
Vassell said he has talked to Popovich on the phone as he goes through rehab. The Spurs said in a statement in November that Popovich is expected to make a full recovery.
In a statement he issued in December, Popovich suggested he plans to return to coaching.
“No one is more excited to see me return to the bench than the talented individuals who have been leading my rehabilitation process," Popovich said. "They’ve quickly learned that I’m less than coachable.”
Vassell said he has spoken to Popovich on the phone.
“I know he likes to keep everything private, so I’ll keep what we talked about private,” Vassell said.
Popovich, who is in his 29th year coaching the Spurs, has missed 38 games while recovering. The Spurs are 18-20 in that span.
NBA reschedules game postponed by wildfires
The Spurs-Los Angeles Lakers game postponed earlier this month due to the wildfires in Southern California will now be played March 17 instead, the NBA announced Tuesday.
The game was originally set for Jan. 11 but was postponed because the league didn’t want to take resources away from efforts to fight the blazes that devastated several communities in the L.A. area.
With the Spurs playing at the Lakers on March 17, the Spurs game at home against Orlando on that date has now been moved to April 1.
By Tom Orsborn, Staff writer, via San Antonio Express-News