By Tom Orsborn, Staff writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2025-02-13 13:54:10
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。
圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(Stephon Castle)(5)在2025年1月15日星期三于德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥的Frost Bank中心下半场制造孟菲斯灰熊队犯规后，受到了包括前锋凯尔登·约翰逊(Keldon Johnson)(0)在内的队友的赞扬。马刺队以129-115负于灰熊队。
旧金山——上周马刺队在夏洛特打完比赛后，德阿隆·福克斯(De’Aaron Fox)对斯蒂芬·卡斯尔并不满意。
福克斯对这位新秀后卫的不满与他的表现无关。卡斯尔在那场一分惜败的比赛中表现出色，15投10中，三分球5投3中，罚球11投10中，砍下赛季最高的33分。
让福克斯恼火的是，这位20岁的后卫没有履行球队老将分配给他的新秀职责。
“我就想，靠，我走进这里，以为我的毛巾会在椅子上，”福克斯在加入马刺队的第二场比赛后，在更衣室里笑着说。
“而且在我第一次投篮训练时，斯蒂芬没有准备好鞋子。所以我就想，这些新秀都在干什么？”
虽然服侍老将是新秀的必经之路，但福克斯只是拿卡斯尔的懈怠开玩笑。
考虑到自从马刺队在去年六月以第四顺位选中这位佐治亚州本地球员后，他表现得多么令人印象深刻，他理应被原谅。
“斯蒂芬很特别，非常特别，”39岁的马刺队控球后卫克里斯·保罗(Chris Paul)说道，他一直很照顾卡斯尔。“他热爱篮球，热爱攻防两端，我对此表示赞赏。”
周五晚上，卡斯尔将参加NBA全明星周末的新星迷你锦标赛，他是年度最佳新秀的领跑者，竞争者包括孟菲斯的杰伦·威尔斯和扎克·埃迪、新奥尔良的伊夫·米西、迈阿密的凯莱尔·韦尔、华盛顿的亚历克斯·萨尔和鲍勃·卡林顿，以及亚特兰大的扎卡里·里萨谢，即状元秀。
在这些人中，除了韦尔之外，其他人都将参加新星赛。没有人能像卡斯尔一样，带着如此强劲的势头前来。
在12月下旬经历了一段挣扎期后，卡斯尔在1月份找到了状态，他以14.9分的场均得分领跑所有新秀，并有五场比赛得分超过20分，从而荣获西部月度最佳新秀的称号。在此期间，他表现最好的一场比赛是1月15日对阵孟菲斯，他拿下26分、8个篮板、6次助攻且0失误，成为自2013年威尔·拜伦以来联盟中第一位拿下20+8+6且0失误的新秀。
为了强调他持续进步，卡斯尔有望再次当选西部月度最佳新秀，因为他在过去10场比赛中每场都得到10分或更多。这一连串的得分高潮包括五场20+的比赛，其中包括他对阵黄蜂的精彩表现。在这段时间里，卡斯尔场均得到18.3分、4.3个篮板、3.5次助攻和1.3次抢断，三分球命中率接近40%，场均出手4.3次。
“成长，自信，他正在成为一名真正的篮球运动员，”马刺队前锋凯尔登·约翰逊说。“他正在努力，我们也在每一步都支持他。我很高兴看到他打出的比赛。这仅仅是他的开始。他绝对会变得很特别。”
本赛季，卡斯尔场均得到12.9分、3.5次助攻、2.8个篮板和0.9次抢断。按每36分钟计算，他的数据是18.2分、5.0次助攻、4.0个篮板和1.2次抢断。
这位康涅狄格大学的毕业生是唯一一位得到500+分、100+篮板和100+助攻的新秀。他在场均得分、总进球数（235）和罚球命中数（130）方面均位居新秀第一。
除了进攻技巧，卡斯尔似乎也正在成为一名精英级别的防守者。他场均接近1次抢断，42次总抢断领先所有新秀。
“他在防守端很有竞争力，”保罗说。“随着他参加更多的比赛，并不断观察和学习其他球员的习惯，他只会变得更好。”
福克斯指出，卡斯尔强壮的6英尺6英寸、215磅的体格在防守端是一个优势。
“他比人们想象的要大得多，也比人们想象的要强壮得多，”福克斯说。“他在防守端所能做到的事情确实使他脱颖而出。”
马刺队也很喜欢卡斯尔的气质和比赛态度。他超越了他的年龄，没有什么事情似乎能让他感到不安。
“给我印象最深的是他的性格，”马刺队代理主教练米奇·约翰逊(Mitch Johnson)说。“他首发（29场）过，他也替补出场过，他打得好过，他挣扎过，但他总是能以最好的方式保持平静。”
教练组也对卡斯尔的智慧赞不绝口。
“令人欣慰的是，他没有一再犯同样的错误，无论是某些传球还是防守端的挡拆掩护，”约翰逊说。“他的成熟程度以及保留信息和改进以前错误的能力非常有价值。”
卡斯尔将自己的迅速崛起归功于他每天坚持的一套价值观。
“真的，只是对自己保持高标准，努力做到听从教练的指导，努力成为一个令人喜欢的好队友，”他说。“我觉得如果你遵循这三件事，一切都会为你而来。”
卡斯尔说，他受益于加入了一支授权球员并营造鼓励氛围的球队。
“我觉得我们的教练组和我的队友对我都抱有极大的信心，所以我理应对自己有信心，”他说。
没有人比保罗更相信卡斯尔。他们在Frost Bank中心的更衣柜是相邻的，这使得保罗可以在比赛前后与这位年轻人分享他丰富的知识。
“斯蒂芬可能厌倦了我整天和他说话，”保罗说。“但我希望他不会，因为我羡慕他的能力和成熟度。他才刚满20岁，但他看起来像一个30岁的人。他在攻防两端都非常出色。他有决心，他有竞争力，而且整场比赛，当你看到我和他说话时，我可能都在告诉他投篮，要有侵略性。”
这位未来的名人堂成员惊叹于他的门徒的运动能力，其中包括将在周六的NBA扣篮大赛上展示的弹跳。
“我从来没有那么有运动天赋或那么强壮，所以很多时候我都在告诉他做一些我知道自己做不到的事情，”保罗说。“而且我总是试图鼓励和激励他。”
至于他对老将们的新秀义务，卡斯尔仍在进步中。在周三在波士顿输球后，这一点很明显，因为保罗不得不提醒卡斯尔，他们需要迅速离开更衣室，前往等候他们的私人包机，带他们和维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)前往旧金山，文班亚马将于周日在与保罗一起参加周六的技巧挑战赛后，参加首届全明星赛迷你锦标赛。
“你准备好了吗？”保罗问卡斯尔。
“差不多了，”这位新秀说。
保罗摇着头回答说：“新秀必须第一个上飞机。”
就像对福克斯一样，保罗只是在开卡斯尔的玩笑。
底线：他们知道他不是一个普通的新秀。
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) drives to the basket on Chicago Bulls center Jalen Smith (7) during the second half of their NBA game at the Frost Bank Center on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024 in San Antonio. Chicago beat the Spurs 139-124.
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Washington Wizards, Monday, Feb. 10, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) looks to pass the ball against Washington Wizards forwards Corey Kispert, center, and Tristan Vukcevic (00) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Feb. 10, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) is fouled while going in for a shot against Orlando Magic guard Gary Harris, left, and center Wendell Carter Jr. during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
点击查看原文：Spurs' 'very special' Stephon Castle a star among NBA's Rising Stars
Spurs’ ‘very special’ Stephon Castle a star among NBA’s Rising Stars
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) receives praise from his teammates including forward Keldon Johnson (0) after Castle drew a Memphis Grizzlies foul in the second half at Frost Bank Center on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs fell to the Grizzles, 129-115.
SAN FRANCISCO – De’Aaron Fox was not happy with Stephon Castle after the Spurs’ game last week at Charlotte.
Fox’s beef with the rookie guard had nothing to do with his play. Castle was terrific in the one-point loss, pumping in a season-high 33 points on 10 for 15 from the floor, 3 for 5 from 3-point range and 10 for 11 from the free throw line.
What bothered Fox was that the 20-year-old guard failed to fulfill the rookie duties assigned to him by the team’s veterans.
“I’m like, damn, I walked in here and thought my towel was going to be on the chair,” Fox said with a smile in the locker room after just his second game with the Spurs.
“And at my first shootaround, Steph didn’t have the shoes ready. So, I’m like, what are the rookies doing around here?”
While it’s a right of passage for rookies to be at the beck and call of the veterans, Fox was simply having fun at Castle’s expense about him slacking off.
Considering how impressive he has been since the Spurs drafted him fourth overall last June, the Georgia native has earned a pass.
“Steph is special, very special,” said Chris Paul, the 39-year-old Spurs point guard who has taken Castle under his wing. :He loves to hoop, loves to play both sides of the ball, and I appreciate it."
On Friday night, Castle will participate in the Risings Stars mini-tournament at NBA All-Star Weekend as the leader in the race for Rookie of the Year in a field that includes Memphis’ Jaylen Wells and Zach Edey, New Orleans’ Yves Missi, Miami’s Kel’el Ware, Washington’s Alex Sarr and Bob Carrington, and Atlanta’s Zaccharie Risacher, the No. 1 overall pick.
Of that group, all but Ware will participate in the Rising Stars. None come in on a bigger roll than Castle.
After struggling a bit in late December, Castle hit his stride in January, leading all rookies with a 14.9 scoring average and five games of 20 or more points to earn Western Conference Rookie of the Month honors. One of his best games in that span was a 26-point, eight-rebound, six-assist, zero-turnover effort Jan. 15 against Memphis in which he became the first rookie in the league to record 20/8/6 without a turnover since Will Baron in 2013.
Underscoring his continued progress, Castle is positioned to repeat as the West’s rookie of the month after scoring 10 or more points in each of his last 10 games. The streak is highlighted by five games of 20-plus points, including his gem against the Hornets. Over the span, Castle is averaging 18.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.3 steals while shooting nearly 40% from 3-point range on 4.3 attempts per game.
“The growth, the confidence, he’s coming into his own as a basketball player,” Spurs forward Keldon Johnson said. “He’s striving and we are supporting him every step of the way. I’m happy to see the games he’s putting together. This is just the beginning for him. He’s definitely going to be special.”
For the season, Castle is averaging 12.9 points, 3.5 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 0.9 steals per game. Per 36 minutes, his norms are 18.2 points, 5.0 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.2 steals.
The Connecticut alumnus is the only rookie with 500-plus points, 100-plus rebounds and 100-plus assists. He ranks first among rookies in points per game, total field goals (235), made free throws (130).
In addition to his offensive skills, Castle seems well on his way to becoming an elite defender. He averages nearly a steal per game and his 42 total steals leads all rookies.
“He competes on defense,” Paul said. “As he gets more games under his belt and continues to watch and learn guys’ tendencies, he’s only going to get better.”
Fox noted that Castle’s sturdy 6-foot-6, 215-pound frame is a plus on the defensive end.
“He’s a lot bigger than people think, a lot stronger than people think,” Fox said. “What he can do defensively really separates him as well.”
The Spurs also love Castle’s demeanor and approach to the game. He’s mature beyond his years and nothing seems to faze him.
“The thing that’s impressed me the most is his temperament,” acting Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. “He’s started (29) games, he’s come off the bench, he’s played well, he’s struggled, and he just kind of flat lines in the best way possible.”
The coaching staff also raves about Castle’s intelligence.
“What’s been nice is to see him not making the same mistakes repeatedly, whether that’s certain passes or pick-and-roll coverages on defense,” Johnson said. “His level of maturity and ability to retain information and to improve upon previous mistakes is very, very valuable.”
Castle credits his rapid rise to a set of values he adheres to daily.
“Really, it’s just holding myself to a high standard, trying to be coachable, trying to be a likeable, a good teammate,” he said. “I feel like if you follow those three things, everything will fall in line for you.”
Castle said he has benefited from joining a team that empowers its players and fosters an encouraging environment.
“I feel like our coaching staff and my teammates have the utmost confidence in me, so it’s only right for me to have that confidence in myself,” he said.
No one believes in Castle more than Paul. Their lockers are side by side at the Frost Bank Center, which allows Paul to share his vast knowledge with the youngster before, during and after games.
“Steph probably gets tired of me talking to him all day long,” Paul said. “But I hope he doesn’t because I’m envious of him because of his ability and his maturity. He just turned 20, but he seems like a 30-year-old man. He’s just really good on both ends of the court. He’s determined, he’s a competitor, and all game long, when you see me talking to him, I’m probably telling him to shoot the ball, be aggressive.”
The future Hall of Famer marvels at his protege’s athleticism, which includes hops that will be on display in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest on Saturday.
“I was never that athletic or that strong, so a lot of times I’m telling him to do stuff I know I can’t do,” Paul said. “And I’m always just trying to encourage him and motivate him.”
As for his rookie obligations to the vets, Castle remains a work in progress. That was evident after Wednesday’s loss at Boston as Paul had to remind Castle they needed to get out of the locker room quickly to head to the private charter waiting to take them and Victor Wembanyama to San Francisco, where Wembanyama will compete in the inaugural All-Star Game mini-tournament Sunday after competing with Paul in the Skills Challenge on Saturday.
“You ready?” Paul asked Castle.
“Damn near,” the rookie said.
Paul, shaking his head, replied, “Rookie’s got to be the first one to the plane.”
Like with Fox, Paul was simply having fun busting Castle’s chops.
Bottom line: They know he is no ordinary rookie.
By Tom Orsborn, Staff writer, via San Antonio Express-News