The San Antonio Spurs could have two All-NBA players this season for the first time since 2015-16.
The last time the San Antonio Spurs had an All-NBA player was LaMarcus Aldridge in 2018. The last time they had two was in 2016, when Aldridge made the third team and Kawhi Leonard made the first team.
Victor Wembanyama, the French superstar, is expected to make his first All-NBA team this season, likely on the top squad. Injuries have held most star players back this season from the 65-game threshold instituted by the league, and that opens the door for Stephon Castle.
With Cade Cunningham and Luka Doncic no longer in the running for MVP, Wemby - who now has his own rib issue to deal with - is only rivaled by Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
With some of the mid-tier stars who would usually make the second or third All-NBA team also out of the running, Castle could join his teammate.
Two Arguments In Favor of Castle
This season, Castle is averaging 16.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 7.3 assists. That's all well and good, but it's not exactly All-NBA numbers.
However, Castle is an exciting, two-way player, and his highlights alone might be enough to get him a nod. That brings us to our first point: the eye test.
“I like Scottie Barnes, but I watched him today, and I just think Castle, eye-test-wise, plus I saw him in person, and Castle was one of the guys that really jumped out to me this year in person,” said Bill Simmons on his Ringer-hosted podcast. "The last two months since the All-Star break, he’s at like 43 percent from 3. I just think he’s turned into an awesome, awesome second guy.”
It's actually 40.5 percent, but close enough, Bill! Point well taken.
That begs another question, though: is Castle the Spurs' second guy? Or is it still De'Aaron Fox?
Fox is a better scorer and likely a better facilitator despite his lesser assist numbers, although Castle has broken out as a good offensive player and an elite defensive player. Can his defense get him onto an All-NBA team? History says no, but injuries to candidates like Cunningham, Doncic, Anthony Edwards, Stephen Curry, Austin Reaves, and Trae Young might change that.
Castle's availability is his second argument.
In his rookie season, he played 81 of the Spurs' 82 games. This season, he's missed 12 games, but as other backcourt stars are already eliminated from contention, his case is only getting better.
All-NBA Competition for Castle Revealed
Who stands in front of him? The All-NBA teams aren't as position-oriented anymore, but it stands to reason that two guards will make each team. That means Castle has to be a top-six backcourt player among the limited stars who have played in 65 or more games.
This season, only three guards have played 62 games and averaged 15 points, five rebounds, and five assists: Amen Thompson, Luka Doncic, and Castle. Doncic, of course, will end his regular season at 64 games played.
Maybe you disagree with the reasoning that a well-rounded player will get the All-NBA nod. However, even if we alter the criteria to 62 games played (so far), 15 points, and five assists (removing rebounds from the equation entirely), only 16 players emerge.
Doncic has been shut down for the season, and the five guards clearly ahead of Castle are SGA, Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Maxey, Donovan Mitchell, and probably Jamal Murray. Things get messy for the sixth spot. Derrick White has a case, and plays on a great team, but do Immanuel Quickley, Payton Pritchard, Devin Booker, LaMelo Ball, Ryan Rollins, and even James Harden impact winning as much as Castle does?
The start of the LA Clippers' season should shrink Harden's case, and Castle has more responsibility on offense than Pritchard, Quickley, and even White.
Ball and Booker, meanwhile, are on far worse teams than the Spurs. Of course, De'Aaron Fox also meets our arbitrary criteria, which brings us back to a key question: who really is the Spurs' second option?
Ask around the locker room, and they'll tell you that it could be anyone on any given night. This season, nine different players have led the Spurs in scoring. Would they be nearly as successful without any one of Castle, Fox, Dylan Harper, Devin Vassell, or Keldon Johnson? Not at all!
Castle passing Simmons' "eye test" and his ability certainly help his case, but in a weird twist of events, the Spurs' success might actually hurt him.
