LeBron James had high praise for San Antonio Spurs star Stephon Castle. The four-time NBA champion gave UConn its flowers for nurturing Castle’s talent at the collegiate level.
Before joining the NBA as the fourth overall pick in the 2024 draft, Castle played for the UConn Huskies and led them to the 2024 NCAA national championship.
In his recent media appearance during the All-Star weekend, James spoke highly of Castle’s defense and shared what he loves about the Spurs star:
“I like the fact that he went to UConn, and even though he was the most talented guy on the team, he just kind of went in there and played his role. He defended at a high level. He showed flashes of his athleticism, but he didn’t step outside the box. He was just fitting in, and they won a national championship. That’s a winning player.
“I think we all saw how talented the kid was, and that’s the reason he was a lottery pick and why he’s doing what he’s doing now. But the fact that he didn’t go somewhere where he could just dominate the ball and shoot a bunch of shots or whatever the case may be, I love that aspect.”
James also spoke about Castle joining the Spurs and said that he knows a good player when he sees one:
“And obviously, him being in San Antonio helps, too. You’re going to learn the game the right way. You’re going to play the game the right way. His talent obviously speaks for itself, but he just seems like a good kid. I don’t really know him like that personally, I don’t have a personal relationship with him, but he seems like a great kid. I’m pretty good at noticing whether you’re a good person or not.”
Stephon Castle Reflects On His Time With UConn
After helping UConn win the 2024 National Championship and then declaring for the NBA Draft, Stephon Castle reflected on what the journey meant to him. He spoke highly of the environment at UConn and how it has contributed well to his career.
“That program means the world to me,” Castle said. “They put my life on a trajectory that I only dreamed of being in. I owe that program everything. … Just being there for the short time that I was there, I tapped in with Kemba (Walker) a lot. I was able to connect with Rudy (Gay), Emeka (Okafor) and Charlie (Villanueva).
“Just really all the guys, they always came back. It’s like a family culture. All the guys were mentors for us.”
In his lone season with the Huskies, Stephon Castle earned Big East Rookie of the Year honors. He averaged 11.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists and was the defensive anchor on the team.
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