Stephon Castle Earns 5 First-Place Spurs Castle Votes in Defensive Nod
spurs castle had a clear vote count, but not the spot. Stephon Castle received five first-place votes and 36 second-place votes for the All-Defensive Team and still missed the list, a sharp snapshot of how quickly he has entered the league’s defensive conversation in his second NBA season.
Castle’s Vote Total
The numbers are hard to miss. Castle’s five first-place votes and 36 second-place votes put him on the ballot in a meaningful way, even though the final result left him off the All-Defensive Team.
That vote share came after a season in which he was asked to handle difficult defensive assignments. He guarded Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Cade Cunningham, and Luka Doncic, and Mitch Johnson felt comfortable putting him on bigger forwards and centers.
Wembanyama’s Spur Lockdown
Victor Wembanyama made the All-Defensive First Team this season after being named the league’s first unanimous DPOY. He and Castle now sit at the center of the Spurs’ defensive future, with one protecting the rim and the other taking on pressure at the point of attack.
The pairing started to take shape after the Spurs added Castle the year after they started with Wembanyama. That timing matters because it gives the team two young defensive pieces developing together rather than one veteran anchor carrying the load alone.
Spurs Defense Next
The source frames Castle as an elite point-of-attack defender and Wembanyama as an elite rim protector, and that combination is the real takeaway from the vote totals. Castle’s near-miss does not shrink his value; it shows he is already drawing recognition among defenders who are usually harder to dislodge from these teams.
“It's no surprise that Victor Wembanyama made the All-Defensive First Team this season after being named the league's first unanimous DPOY.” The line fits the ballot outcome, and it also explains why Castle’s support stood out: the Spurs already have one recognized defensive star, and now another young piece is getting real traction.
“That means one thing: the Spurs boast one of the scariest defensive duos in the NBA, and that will be the case for a long time.” Castle’s vote total and Wembanyama’s First Team selection give that idea some actual weight, not just projection.
