SAN ANTONIO — Usually, it takes several seasons for an NBA player to start understanding what it takes to succeed at the pro level.
There's that moment when everything comes together and things "click" game-in and game-out.
Again, it takes plenty of games, lessons learned, and bumps along the road before a player "gets it." But that learning curve to NBA clarity might already be taking shape for Stephon Castle.
He says it isn't taking him long to adjust to the NBA level of play after just two preseason games.
"I’m not taking it for granted being out there. It’s starting to slow down for me," the San Antonio Spurs 2024 No. 4 first-round pick said.
In just two preseason games, Castle is looking comfortable on the court and proving why the Spurs have been scouting him since high school.
In his preseason debut, he played 18 minutes, scoring five points and giving three assists. He also grabbed two rebounds, mainly playing off-guard. Against the Magic, he notched 17 points and four assists. More importantly, he cut down on his turnovers, only recording one instead of six versus the Thunder.
"I feel like I had some bad turnovers in game one, so I’m trying to limit those as much as I can to maximize our opportunities on offense," he said.
Perhaps the 19-year-old isn't too far off his assessment.
His teammate, Sandro Mamukelashvili, sees the confidence and the calm pace he plays with.
"Steph is amazing. Such a great player. Confident. I feel like he was slow in pace. He had great passes, a couple of great passes. Played great defense," Sandro said.
Even Victor Wembanyama noted the rookie's maturity on the floor.
"His game is looking like it’s transitioning very good. He actually looks more experienced. He gives a very mature impression," Wembanyama said.
Of course, this does not mean he won't have much learning. As much as he has looked solid in two preseason games, he's also learning the difference in the competition level from the NCAA to the NBA.
"I would say the speed of the game is a lot different and the physicality. Everybody is good, from the first man to the 14th man," he said.
It may be premature for Castle to believe the NBA level is slowing for him, considering he has yet to play in a regular season game against some of the league's top talent. Then there is the grind of the season, the traveling, back-to-back games and the looming "Rookie Wall."
But for two preseason games, his defense, passing and athleticism were on display, as well as his fearlessness when he attacked the Thunder defense to bring the Frost Bank Center to a roar with a thunderous dunk in his debut.
“He figured out tonight that those are NBA guys on the other side,” Popovich said. "Sometimes those shots at the rim were probably going down for him at UConn, and here there’s somebody there that is just as strong as him. It’s great for him to see that."
If anything, his confidence is there. It shows he belongs on the NBA stage, and if the game is going slow for him sooner rather than later, that is a massive boon for the Spurs and their path to coming out of the rebuild quicker.
"I’m getting adjusted to the physicality of it," Castle said. "To be on that court, you’ve got to have some type of background."