By Tom Orsborn, Staff writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2025-02-07 14:31:46
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。
圣安东尼奥马刺队的斯蒂芬·卡斯尔，上图，在2024年12月25日周三在纽约举行的NBA篮球比赛上半场扣篮后做出反应。（美联社照片/Seth Wenig）
北卡罗来纳州夏洛特——周三晚上，在亚特兰大云集了NBA扣篮界的“皇室成员”的情况下，马刺队的新秀斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(Stephon Castle)表现出色，展现了他希望很快成为的扣篮之王的潜力。
在第一节末，斯蒂芬·卡斯尔接到德文·瓦塞尔(Devin Vassell)在外线的传球后，一个虚晃的假动作让拉里·南斯(Larry Nance Jr.)定在原地，从而创造了突破路线。运了几下球后，这位6尺6寸的康涅狄格大学校友在油漆区内高高跃起，用一记雷霆万钧般的双手暴扣，越过加里森·马修斯(Garrison Matthews)，引得马刺队替补席上的队友们纷纷起立欢呼。
这可能也引来了NBA名人堂成员、往届扣篮大赛冠军多米尼克·威尔金斯(Dominique Wilkins)和朱利叶斯·欧文(Julius Erving)在州立农场球馆内的赞许，马刺队在那里以126-125险胜老鹰队，这场比赛由ESPN在全国范围内直播。
“我正在努力通过这次扣篮大赛追随他们的脚步，所以我希望我至少给他们留下了一点印象，”斯蒂芬·卡斯尔说，他是佐治亚州科文顿人，这是他在家乡州打的第一场NBA比赛后，对威尔金斯和欧文的评价。
斯蒂芬·卡斯尔替补出场20分钟，得到11分、3次助攻和1次抢断，但最引人注目的是他越过马修斯的扣篮。
“很明显，他正在为扣篮大赛做准备，”马刺队前锋哈里森·巴恩斯(Harrison Barnes)在周五的投篮训练后说道，为当晚对阵黄蜂队的比赛做准备。
斯蒂芬·卡斯尔将于2月15日在旧金山举行的全明星周末上，与奥兰多魔术队的两届卫冕冠军麦克·麦克朗(Mac McClung)、密尔沃基雄鹿队的安德烈·杰克逊(Andre Jackson Jr.)以及芝加哥公牛队的新秀马塔斯·布泽利斯(Matas Buzelis)一较高下。
斯蒂芬·卡斯尔是第四位参加这项年度赛事的马刺球员，也是自1988年格雷格·“凯迪拉克”·安德森(Greg “Cadillac” Anderson)之后的首位。约翰尼·道金斯(Johnny Dawkins)（1987年）和埃德加·“直升机”·琼斯(Edgar “Helicopter” Jones)（1984年）也代表马刺队参加过NBA扣篮大赛。
在过去的几周里，斯蒂芬·卡斯尔一直在训练中练习扣篮，包括主场和客场的训练、投篮练习和比赛，这给他的队友们留下了深刻的印象。
“他只是在热身时就拿出了一些疯狂的动作，所以我只能想象他将在扣篮大赛中尝试做什么，”德文·瓦塞尔说。
斯蒂芬·卡斯尔对阵老鹰队时的精彩扣篮突显了他独特的爆发力，在离篮筐几英尺的地方就能腾空而起。
“我知道他的节奏有点慢，但一旦他离篮筐两英尺（约0.6米），那就结束了，”瓦塞尔说。“他从意想不到的地方冒出来，然后瞬间爆发。”
斯蒂芬·卡斯尔说，他仍在思考将在旧金山使用哪些扣篮动作，以及是否会使用道具。
“还没有完全确定，但快了，”他说。
斯蒂芬·卡斯尔说，当他想到比赛时，他既感到焦虑又充满信心。
“我几乎每场比赛都会感到紧张，所以我想这对我来说只是另一项赛事，”他说。
NBA周四宣布，本次比赛的评委将包括前NBA球星拜伦·戴维斯(Baron Davis)、凯文·加内特(Kevin Garnett)、特雷西·麦克格雷迪(Tracy McGrady)和贾森·理查德森(Jason Richardson)。
斯蒂芬·卡斯尔的队友们相信他会在聚光灯下茁壮成长。
“他所展现的各种扣篮，他所表现出的力量，以及他作为一名新秀所建立的信心，都令人印象深刻，”巴恩斯说。
“令人印象深刻”还不足以形容威尔金斯和欧文当年所做的事情。
威尔金斯，绰号“人类电影精华”，在1985年和1990年效力于亚特兰大时赢得了NBA扣篮大赛冠军。
欧文，绰号“J博士”，在1976年效力于纽约网队时赢得了ABA扣篮大赛冠军，当时参赛阵容强大，包括马刺队的乔治·“冰人”·格文(George “The Iceman” Gervin)和拉里·“K特工”·基农(Larry “Special K” Kenon)，丹佛掘金队的戴维·“天行者”·汤普森(David “Skywalker” Thompson)以及肯塔基上校队的阿蒂斯·“A火车”·吉尔摩(Artis “A-Train” Gilmore)。
欧文凭借他著名的从15英尺外（约4.6米）三步上篮扣篮赢得了比赛。
“我记得那蓬松的发型，”ESPN在一篇关于这次比赛的周年纪念文章中引用了格文的话。“J博士的头发向后飞舞。”
斯蒂芬·卡斯尔说他“一直”喜欢观看像欧文这样的伟大球员的比赛视频。
“我觉得他们成就了今天的扣篮大赛，所以我真的在努力感受他们曾经拥有的那种感觉，”他说。
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) dunks the ball over Utah Jazz forward John Collins (20) during the second half of their NBA game at the Frost Bank Center on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. Utah beat the Spurs 111-110.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - NOVEMBER 7: Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs dunks against the Portland Trailblazers in the first half at Frost Bank Center on November 7, 2024 in San Antonio, Texas.
DENVER, COLORADO - JANUARY 03: Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs dunks against the Denver Nuggets in the first quarter at Ball Arena on January 03, 2025 in Denver, Colorado.
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.
PARIS, FRANCE - JANUARY 25: Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs dunks the ball against the Indiana Pacers during the third quarter at The Accor Arena on January 25, 2025 in Paris, France.
点击查看原文：Stephon Castle ready for spotlight at NBA All-Star dunk contest
Stephon Castle ready for spotlight at NBA All-Star dunk contest
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. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – With NBA high-flying royalty on hand Wednesday night in Atlanta, Spurs rookie Stephon Castle delivered like the slam-dunk king he hopes to soon become.
After collecting a pass from Devin Vassell out on the perimeter late in the first quarter, Castle created a lane to the basket with an up-fake that froze Larry Nance Jr. in his tracks. A couple of dribbles later, the 6-foot-6 Connecticut alumnus elevated inside the paint to throw down a thundering two-hand slam over Garrison Matthews that brought his teammates on the Spurs bench to their feet.
It also likely prompted a couple of nods of approval from NBA Hall of Famers and past dunk champions Dominique Wilkins and Julius Erving from their seats at State Farm Arena, where the Spurs held on for a 126-125 win over the Hawks in a game televised nationally by ESPN.
“I’m trying to follow in their footsteps right now with this dunk contest, so I hope I impressed them a little bit at least,” Castle, a native of nearby Covington, Ga., said of Wilkins and Erving after he played his first NBA game in his home state.
Castle finished with 11 points, three assists and a steal in 20 minutes off the bench, but it was his dunk over Matthews that drew the most attention.
“Clearly, he was prepping for the dunk contest,” Spurs forward Harrison Barnes said Friday after shootaround in preparation for that night’s game against the Hornets.
Castle will square off against two-time defending champion Mac McClung of Orlando, Andre Jackson Jr. of Milwaukee and fellow rookie Matas Buzelis of Chicago on Feb. 15 at All-Star Weekend in San Francisco.
Castle is the fourth Spur to participate in the annual event and the first since Greg “Cadillac” Anderson in 1988. Johnny Dawkins (1987) and Edgar “Helicopter” Jones (1984) also represented the Spurs in NBA dunk contests.
For the past several weeks, Castle has practiced for the event with dunks at practices, shootarounds and games both at home and on the road that have impressed his teammates.
“He pulls out some crazy stuff just in warm-ups, so I can only imagine what he’s going to try and do in the slam dunk contest,” Devin Vassell said.
Castle’s highlight-reel slam against the Hawks highlighted his unique ability to explode skyward just feet from the basket.
“I know he has kind of got that slow pace, but once he gets to two feet (of the basket), it’s over,” Vassell said. “He comes out of nowhere and he just explodes.”
Castle said he is still trying to figure out which dunks he will use in San Francisco and if he will use props.
“It’s not all the way finalized, but it’s getting there,” he said.
Castle said when he thinks about the competition, he experiences a mix of anxiety and confidence.
“I get nervous for most games, so I think it’s just going to be another event for me,” he said.
The NBA announced Thursday the judges for the contest will include former NBA stars Baron Davis, Kevin Garnett, Tracy McGrady and Jason Richardson.
Castle’s teammates are confident he will thrive in the spotlight.
“The variety of dunks he’s had, the force he’s played with, the confidence he’s building as a rookie, it has been impressive,” Barnes said.
Impressive doesn’t begin to describe what Wilkins and Erving did back in the day.
Wilkins, nicknamed “The Human Highlight Film” won the NBA dunk contest in 1985 and 1990 while with Atlanta.
Erving, dubbed “Dr. J,” won the ABA dunk contest in 1976 while with the New York Nets in a strong field that included the Spurs’ George “The Iceman” Gervin and Larry “Special K” Kenon, the Denver Nuggets’ David “Skywalker” Thompson and the Kentucky Colonels’ Artis “A-Train” Gilmore.
Erving won the event thanks to his famed three-strides-to-the-rim-from-15-feet-away slam.
“I remember the afro,” ESPN quoted Gervin in an anniversary piece about the contest. “Doc’s hair was flying back.”
Castle said he enjoys watching video clips of greats like Erving in action “all the time.”
“I feel like they made the dunk contest what it is today, so I’m really trying be in the same kind of feeling they had,” he said.
By Tom Orsborn, Staff writer, via San Antonio Express-News