Stephon Castle Wins Rising Stars MVP, Eyes More All-Star Glory/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ San Antonio Spurs rookie Stephon Castle secured the Rising Stars MVP award after leading Team C to a 25-14 victory over Team G League in the final. Castle played a key role in both games, including setting up Utah Jazz rookie Keyonte George for the game-winning three-pointer. With a packed All-Star Weekend ahead, Castle is also set to compete in the dunk contest and face off against NBA legends in Sunday’s All-Star Game.
Stephon Castle’s MVP Performance Leads Team C to All-Star Game – Quick Look
- Castle Wins MVP: Spurs rookie Stephon Castle led Team C to victory in the Rising Stars Challenge.
- Dominant Performance: Castle scored 11 points in the final and assisted the game-winning shot.
- All-Star Weekend Plans: He will also compete in the dunk contest on Saturday.
- Historic Opportunity: Team C will face Shaq’s OGs in Sunday’s All-Star Game.
- Star-Studded Opposition: LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry will be among the opponents.
- Coaching Changes: Candace Parker will coach Team C in the All-Star Game, replacing Chris Mullin.
- Cash Prize: Each Team C player earned $35,000 for winning the Rising Stars event.
- Competitive Format: The All-Star Game will use the same target-score mini-tournament system.
Deep Look: Stephon Castle Wins Rising Stars MVP as Team C Advances to All-Star Game
San Antonio Spurs rookie Stephon Castle made a bold statement at the NBA Rising Stars Challenge on Friday night, earning the MVP award after leading Team C to a decisive 25-14 victory over Team G League in the final. Castle, playing under coach Chris Mullin, delivered an impressive performance, scoring 11 points and assisting Keyonte George’s game-winning three-pointer.
This win secured Team C a spot in Sunday’s All-Star Game, where they will face Shaquille O’Neal’s OGs, a veteran team featuring LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant. Castle, however, isn’t done yet—he’s also set to compete in the dunk contest on Saturday night.
Castle’s Clutch Performance
Castle’s impact was felt throughout the Rising Stars tournament. In the first group game, he hit the game-winning jumper in a 40-34 victory over Team T, coached by Tim Hardaway Sr. The final, played to a target score of 25, saw Castle take control once again, ensuring Team C’s triumph over Team G League, which was led by Jeremy Lin.
“To be a part of the game-winning bucket in both, it means a lot,” Castle said after the victory.
Historic All-Star Opportunity
Castle’s stellar weekend is far from over. He will now compete in Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game, a unique format featuring four teams of eight players battling in a mini-tournament. The game follows a target score format of 40 points per game, a change implemented to increase competition after previous All-Star Games faced criticism for lackluster defense.
Joining Castle on Team C will be Dalton Knecht (Lakers), Ryan Dunn (Suns), and Trayce Jackson-Davis (Warriors), among others. Coaching duties will pass from Chris Mullin to Candace Parker, who, as general manager, added Amen Thompson (Rockets) to the squad.
Facing NBA Legends
Team C will be the underdogs against Shaq’s OGs, a team featuring legendary NBA superstars like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, James Harden, Damian Lillard, Jayson Tatum, Kyrie Irving, and Jaylen Brown. Despite the challenge, Castle remains confident in his team’s ability to compete.
“We’re out there with nothing to lose,” Castle told ESPN. “We’re playing confident, playing free. So I just wouldn’t count us out.”
Los Angeles Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht is especially excited about facing his veteran teammate, LeBron James.
“I’m playing against Bron, so I get to go against one of my teammates,” Knecht said. “It’ll be a lot of fun to go out there and try to make a statement.”
Asked if there would be any trash talk, Knecht laughed, saying, “I usually don’t start it. I usually try to finish it.”
Dunk Contest & Rising Stars Prize Money
Castle isn’t just focused on Sunday’s matchup—he’s also aiming for another trophy in the dunk contest on Saturday. When asked about his plans for the competition, he remained tight-lipped:
“I don’t want to spoil anything, but I’ll just say the MVP trophy isn’t the only trophy I’m trying to take home.”
Each member of Team C earned $35,000 for winning the Rising Stars event, adding another incentive for Castle and his squad to continue their strong All-Star Weekend.
With Castle now joining Blake Griffin (2011) as one of the few rookies to participate in events on all three nights of All-Star Weekend, all eyes will be on him as he tries to cement his status as one of the league’s brightest young stars.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.