The San Antonio Spurs had two NBA All-Stars last season, and if they don't add to their total, they could have one player replace De'Aaron Fox.
The San Antonio Spurs will certainly have an All-Star next season. Barring injury, Victor Wembanyama is the biggest lock for the festivities since prime LeBron James or Stephen Curry.
With the Spurs expected to be one of the better teams in the NBA, having only one All-Star seems to be a bit of a reach. Last season, De'Aaron Fox was a last-minute injury replacement, mostly due to Mitch Johnson's lobbying.
After a lackluster Finals performance, Fox's stardom is at an all-time low. Still, there's plenty of time for him to fix his reputation before All-Star voting begins. It might be too late, though, as Stephon Castle is nipping at his heels.
Stephon Castle Gets All-Star Hype
Castle entered the NBA as hands-down the best player in his draft class, and no one is close. Last season, his offense took a massive leap, and he cemented himself as one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA.
If the outside shot starts falling, he will quickly become one of the best players in the NBA.
"I think that if you look at who could be the second Spurs All-Star, maybe it's Fox or maybe it could be Stephon Castle, who still, I feel like, has another level to grow," said The Athletic's Law Murray. "He will be in his third NBA season. We know that that dude can get two feet in the paint very easily. We know that he is bolstering a reputation as a two-way player as far as not just his defensive aptitude, but who he guards as well. He's a tough dude, incredibly athletic, huge for his size, and now is coming off of real playoff experience."
Dylan Harper, in the long run, might end up a better player than Castle, but for now, the UConn product is playing high-level basketball in the starting lineup. As long as the Spurs keep winning, expect Castle's accolades to pile up.
"They went to the Finals," Murray added. "And obviously he was a Rookie of the Year in his class, right? So we already know that he's on a trajectory that suggests that he should be a star, and we could see a push, and if he plays the way that we think he will, I think he's going to be a real candidate for that spot."
In the West, Wemby, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, and Anthony Edwards are all locks. Stephen Curry will get a nod, too, but after that, Castle is firmly in consideration.
