What happened to Stephon Castle? Latest injury update as Spurs rookie is set to miss rest of 2024 Summer League (July 14)

The San Antonio Spurs are shutting down prized rookie Stephon Castle for the remainder of the 2024 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, Nevada. Castle has played just one game in Las Vegas and it showed why the Spurs picked him fourth overall. But what happened to the 19-year-old guard?

According to Tom Osborn of the San Antonio Express-News, Castle suffered a wrist injury in his Las Vegas Summer League debut against the Portland Trail Blazers. It was just a minor injury, but the Spurs are going to err on the side of caution and keep him out for the remainder of the Summer League.

It was a bad fall by Castle, who was shaken up but gave the crowd a thumbs up. Fans noticed that he was still moving well after it happened. However, he was not playing sound basketball following the incident.

In his only Las Vegas Summer League game, Stephon Castle had 22 points, five rebounds, four assists and a steal. Castle shot 8-for-21 from the field, including 2-for-6 from beyond the arc. It was not a good shooting game for Castle, but it was enough for the San Antonio Spurs.

Before Las Vegas, the UConn product played two games in the California Classic Summer League. He had 12 points, six rebounds and three assists in his debut against the Charlotte Hornets. He followed it up with 18 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals in a win over Team China.

The Spurs are probably happy with how Castle performed in his three games in the Summer League. He kept improving every game and should be a contributor immediately. He will learn a lot from the legendary Chris Paul, who was signed in free agency.

---

Gregg Popovich praises Stephon Castle after Las Vegas Summer League debut

Gregg Popovich praises Stephon Castle after Las Vegas Summer League debut. (Photo: IMAGN)

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich liked what he saw from Stephon Castle in his lone game in the Las Vegas Summer League. Popovich praised Castle's maturity for his age, as well as his pace and love for contact.

"I love his seriousness for such a young kid. I love his pace You see his expression never changes. He doesn't go too fast, doesn't go too slow. He reads the situations. The more minutes he gets, the better he is going to be. He seeks contact, he is an excellent defender and he makes wonderful decisions," Popovich said. [H/T San Antonio Express-News]

Despite what Popovich said about Castle, the rookie still needs to improve the most important part of his game – shooting. The Spurs love Castle's mechanics but the coaching staff are looking to help him unlock his potential there.