Just two years ago, Stephon Castle was in high school.
On Thursday night, he suited up for Gregg Popovich, threw entry passes to Victor Wembanyama, and was tasked with guarding Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic.
The 19-year-old former UConn men’s basketball star made his regular season NBA debut on Thursday, in the San Antonio Spurs’ season opener, a 120-109 loss to the Dallas Mavericks.
Castle played 18 minutes, scored eight points, dished out five assists and grabbed three rebounds. He finished 3 of 7 from the floor, 2-for-3 from the free throw line and missed both of his 3-point attempts.
“I thought he was great,” Popovich told the San Antonio Express-News. “He’s a competitive son of a gun.”
As for any advice the legendary Spurs head coach might have had for Castle before the game?
“I said, ‘You know, basically you’re a sophomore in college,’” Popovich told the Express-News. “‘At some point in the game, you’re going to guard the possible MVP of the NBA.’ It kind of hit him. It’s a little different.”
The former Husky’s first basket came in the third quarter, after he shook past Irving with a nice crossover, rose up and drained a midrange jumper over the outstretched arms of Dereck Lively.
He’d add to his total in the fourth, driving into the paint and drawing a foul while getting a tough layup to go in traffic. Castle completed the three-point play with a made free throw. He also finished on a lob from Blake Wesley, and drained another free throw after drawing a foul.
Castle will take the court again for the Spurs when they face the Rockets on Saturday in San Antonio (8:30 p.m.)
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