TITLE: Castle Credits Retired Veteran Chris Paul for Steering His Sophomore Season
SLUG: castle-credits-chris-paul
CONTENT:
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle believes his second NBA campaign stayed on track thanks to the mentorship of former teammate Chris Paul.
“What he showed me last year, I feel like it helped me this year,” Castle told the San Antonio Express-News. “He was a coach on the floor for us at all times, especially for me.”
Castle, who captured 2024-25 Rookie of the Year honors, said Paul’s guidance centered on pace, positioning and reading plays a possession in advance—areas the 39-year-old point guard mastered during a Hall of Fame career built on precision and competitiveness.
Paul’s influence came during the 2025-26 season in San Antonio. The veteran guard was waived by the Toronto Raptors on Friday and announced his retirement shortly afterward, ending an NBA run that spanned nearly two decades.
While Paul’s playing days have concluded, Castle noted that the lessons learned from the 12-time All-Star will continue to shape his approach on the court.
Source: Hoops Wire
