Social Media Erupts After Rookie Stephon Castle's Jaw-Dropping Dunk

On Monday night, San Antonio Spurs rookie guard Stephon Castle brought the crowd to its feet during the team's first preseason game.

Mathey Gibson | Oct 8, 2024

Oct 7, 2024; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) shoots over Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Ducas (88) during the second half at Frost Bank Center. / Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

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San Antonio Spurs

San Antonio Spurs rookie Stephon Castle’s athleticism has never been in question.

Known for his explosive hops since his days at UConn and even back in high school, Castle is only scratching the surface of his potential at just 19 years old.

On Monday night, Castle made his highly anticipated preseason debut for the Spurs in a narrow 112-107 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Despite struggling with ball control—racking up six turnovers in 19 minutes—he flashed glimpses of his potential, scoring five points on 2-of-3 shooting, dishing out three assists, and grabbing two rebounds.

But the moment that stole the show came in the third quarter when Castle caught the ball at the elbow, made a move, and soared over rookie Alex Ducas for a thunderous dunk.

As soon as the highlight hit, social media went wild, buzzing about the No. 4 overall pick’s electrifying play.

What Were They Saying About Stephon Castle's Dunk?

San Antonio Spurs Official X Account ...

Can't stop watching 🤩 pic.twitter.com/wkVq40WjWt
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) October 8, 2024

same KJ same https://t.co/Pk7m7KDzLl pic.twitter.com/UXW6y1c1gJ
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) October 8, 2024

NBA on ESPN ...

STEPHON CASTLE OMG 💥

Wait for the bench reaction 😂 pic.twitter.com/YeZLTTnjt9
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) October 8, 2024

Spurs Culture on X ...

STEPHON CASTLE THAT MAN HAS A FAMILY, STOP IT pic.twitter.com/NsbGAKnZE1
— Spurs Culture (@SpursCulture) October 8, 2024

No Ceilings NBA ...

Stephon Castle with authority 🎥pic.twitter.com/vslydMvNo7
— No Ceilings (@NoCeilingsNBA) October 8, 2024

The Bottom Line

Castle is an intriguing addition to San Antonio, and he’s expected to play a key role off the bench this season as he works on refining his three-point shot.

While there’s a chance he could crack the starting lineup by season’s end, it’s more likely that Castle will take some time to adjust, learning the Spurs' system while benefiting from the mentorship of Chris Paul, who’s on a one-year deal.

However, it won’t be long before we see Castle throwing lobs to superstar center Victor Wembanyama and delivering more highlight-reel dunks of his own.