SAN ANTONIO — When Stephon Castle arrived in the NBA as the fourth overall pick in the 2024 draft, scouts praised his elite defensive instincts, playmaking vision, and physical tools. One area consistently flagged for improvement? His 3-point shooting. Through his first 20 games with the San Antonio Spurs, Castle shot just 28.6% from beyond the arc — a figure that raised eyebrows among analysts questioning his offensive fit alongside Victor Wembanyama.
Fast forward to March 2025, and the narrative has shifted dramatically. Castle is now shooting 38.4% from three-point range on 4.2 attempts per game, a transformation that has not only silenced critics but become a cornerstone of San Antonio’s evolving offensive identity under head coach Gregg Popovich.
This isn’t merely a case of a young player finding his stroke. It’s a deliberate, multi-layered tactical reprogramming — one that turns a perceived liability into a strategic advantage, forcing opponents to reconsider how they defend the Spurs’ rising backcourt.
The Early Struggles: Diagnosing the Issue
Castle’s rookie 3-point woes weren’t random. Film study conducted by the Spurs’ analytics department revealed a hitch in his release mechanics — specifically, a tendency to drift left during his follow-through when fatigued or contested. Combined with a slow trigger (0.82 seconds release time, per Second Spectrum data), defenders learned to sag off him, daring him to shoot while collapsing on Wembanyama in the paint.
“Early on, teams were giving him space because they didn’t fear the shot,” said an NBA advance scout who requested anonymity to discuss opponent tendencies. “You could live with Castle taking threes if it meant keeping the ball out of Wembanyama’s hands or preventing drives.”
The Spurs’ coaching staff didn’t panic. Instead, they initiated a quiet overhaul during the December break, focusing not just on shooting form but on when and how Castle would be asked to shoot.
The Tactical Shift: From Spot-Up to Weaponized Gravity
San Antonio’s approach evolved in three distinct phases. First, they stripped Castle of unnecessary movement. Rather than having him flare off screens for catch-and-shoot threes — a action that exacerbated his mechanical inconsistencies — the Spurs began using him primarily in dribble-handoff (DHO) situations with Wembanyama or as the roll man in pick-and-pop actions.
This reduced the cognitive load on his shot. By catching the ball in motion toward the basket before popping out, Castle’s natural momentum helped stabilize his release. His 3-point percentage on DHO pops jumped from 29.1% to 41.3% after the adjustment, according to Synergy Sports tracking.
Second, the Spurs began leveraging Castle’s shooting threat as a decoy — even when he wasn’t shooting. Opposing teams, aware of his improved range, started over-helping on his drives, creating lanes for Wembanyama to operate or kick-out passes to shooters like Jeremy Sochan and Keldon Johnson.
“Stephon’s gravity is real now,” said assistant coach Mitch Johnson in a post-game press conference after the Spurs’ 118-105 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on March 12, 2025. “When he puts the ball on the floor, defenses have to choose: do you stop him at the rim and depart Victor open? Or do you stay home and let Stephon pull up? That’s a lose-lose for them.”
Third, and perhaps most ingeniously, Popovich began using Castle in staggered screen actions with the bench unit. When the starters rested, Castle would set a down screen for a shooter like Malaki Branham, then immediately pop to the three-point line — a action known as a “flare pop.” Defenders, conditioned to expect Castle to roll or slip the screen, were frequently caught out of position, leaving him open for catch-and-shoot looks.
The results have been measurable. In games where Castle attempts at least three threes, the Spurs are 14-3 this season. His offensive rating jumps from 108.2 to 121.7 when he makes multiple threes in a game, per NBA.com/stats.
Verified Progress: The Numbers Behind the Change
Castle’s transformation isn’t anecdotal. Since January 1, 2025, he ranks in the 82nd percentile among NBA guards in catch-and-shoot 3-point percentage (min. 50 attempts), according to Second Spectrum data reviewed by Archysport. His effective field goal percentage on pull-up threes has risen from 45.1% to 52.8% — a significant leap for a young guard still refining his shot creation.
Free throw shooting has also improved — a correlated indicator of mechanical consistency. Castle’s free throw percentage rose from 68.3% to 79.6% over the same period, suggesting broader gains in his shooting routine and focus.
Perhaps most tellingly, his shot selection has become more disciplined. Castle’s percentage of assisted 3-point shots has increased from 58% to 74%, indicating he’s taking higher-quality, rhythm shots rather than forcing contested looks.
“It’s not just about making shots,” said Castle himself in a locker room interview following the 76ers game. “It’s about knowing when to take them, trusting the work we’ve put in, and understanding how my shooting helps the team. Coach Pop and the staff have been relentless in breaking it down — not just the shot, but the timing, the reads, the spacing.”
His confidence is evident in clutch situations. In the fourth quarter of close games (within 5 points, last 5 minutes), Castle is shooting 42.9% from three this season — up from 31.8% as a rookie.
Why This Matters: Implications for San Antonio’s Future
The Spurs currently sit at 34-28, holding the ninth seed in the Western Conference — just half a game out of the play-in tournament zone. Castle’s shooting evolution has directly impacted their offensive efficiency, which has risen from 112.4 points per 100 possessions in December to 118.9 in March — a top-10 mark in the league over that span.
More importantly, it alters the defensive calculus for opponents facing San Antonio’s budding core. Wembanyama already commands double teams whenever he touches the ball in the post. Now, with Castle a legitimate threat from deep, the Spurs can operate with true four-out spacing — a luxury few young teams possess.
This has ripple effects on player development. Sochan, who struggled with spacing early in the season, has seen his 3-point attempts increase as defenses prioritize containing Castle and Wembanyama. Johnson’s kick-out three-point percentage has risen from 34.2% to 38.7% since Castle’s shooting improved.
“When you have two young guys who can shoot and build plays, it opens up everything,” said Johnson. “It’s not just about Stephon or Victor — it’s about how the whole offense flows.”
What’s Next: The Road Ahead
The Spurs face a critical stretch of games beginning March 20, with road trips to Denver and Phoenix before hosting the Dallas Mavericks on March 27. These games will test whether Castle’s shooting can hold up against elite defensive schemes designed to disrupt rhythm and timing.
No major injuries have been reported to Castle or Wembanyama as of March 15, per the Spurs’ official injury report. Castle is listed as day-to-day with maintenance rest, a common management strategy for young players during the latter half of the season.
Looking beyond this season, the Spurs’ front office views Castle’s shooting development as a foundational piece of their long-term contention strategy. With Wembanyama under contract through 2029 and Castle signed to his rookie scale deal, San Antonio is building a core capable of evolving with the NBA’s increasing emphasis on versatile, two-way guards who can space the floor.
For now, the transformation remains a work in progress — but one that has already redefined what’s possible for a franchise in rebuild mode. The Spurs aren’t just waiting for their young stars to develop. They’re actively shaping them into weapons.
As Castle continues to refine his game, one thing is clear: the days of teams sagging off him are over. And in the ever-changing chess match of NBA offense, that might be the most valuable move of all.
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