Just like when he was at UConn, Stephon Castle is thriving in the postseason, now for the San Antonio Spurs.
The former Huskies’ star went off for a game-high 32 points, 11 rebounds and six assists to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves, 139-109, in the deciding Game 6 Friday night to clinch a spot in the Western Conference Finals against Oklahoma City.
Everything was clicking for Castle, who is proving to be one of the best two-way guards in the league at just 21 years old and just two years removed from winning a national championship with the Huskies. The tone was set for his highlight reel performance with an early alley-oop pass to Victor Wembanyama, followed by an open 3-pointer on the wing and a two-handed slam over Minnesota’s Jaden McDaniels.
Castle scored or assisted on 19 of the Spurs’ first 28 points and continued an all-around performance with an NBA career-high five made 3-pointers on seven attempts, raising his shooting percentage in the playoffs to 44% (22-for-50) from beyond the arc.
He became the youngest player in NBA history to post a stat line of at least 30 points, 10 rebounds and five assists on 65% shooting in a playoff game. He was also the first player in Spurs history to have at least 30 points, eight rebounds, five assists and five made 3-pointers in the playoffs.
CASTLE WENT OFF IN THE SERIES-CLINCHER!
🏀 32 PTS (11-16 FGM)🏀 11 REB🏀 6 AST🏀 5 3PM
The Spurs win Game 6 on the road and advance to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2017 👏 pic.twitter.com/KKIzS1Z8N6
— NBA (@NBA) May 16, 2026
“It’s definitely a blessing,” Castle told reporters in Minnesota. “I feel like there’s somebody on our team that breaks some type of record every couple games. Just to be a part of that is definitely a good feeling. I think we’re a really talented group that plays together and plays very selfless, and we’re all young.
“It could be anybody’s night any given night. Us just being very selfless and the way we move the ball, it’s just fun to play.”
The reigning NBA Rookie of the Year after being selected fourth overall by the Spurs in 2024, Castle has averaged 19.9 points, 6.1 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game to this point in his first playoff run, which began with a five-game series against former UConn teammate Donovan Clingan and the Portland Trail Blazers.
“He was pretty damn good,” Spurs’ coach Mitch Johnson said on Friday. “I thought his temperament and disposition led to him having the right approach and playing the right way. We have a few guys on our team that are just that talented that when they do that, they take over at times. The talent pops; they get to just have fun. It’s pretty rewarding as a coach just to watch when they have the right approach and play with the fundamentals needed at this level to execute things, their talent can take it to another level and he had a few moments tonight where he did that.”
“He was amazing. The composure, there was one pass … sometimes he does things that are just amazing,” Wembanyama said.
The Spurs are set to meet the reigning champion Thunder, coached by former UConn student manager Mark Daigneault, in the conference finals beginning Monday at 8:30 p.m. on NBC and Peacock. The Thunder have yet to lose a game in these playoffs, but the Spurs have been their top challenger all season and won the season series, 4-1.
“It’s gonna be a hard-fought series, very physical, two teams with high aspirations,” Castle said. “They’re playing really well right now, we’re playing really well right now. We’re in each other’s way of going to the Finals, so I think it’ll be a good series.”
