Stephon Castle Compared to Jrue Holiday By Dan Hurley

Jrue Holiday is one of the best defensive guards in the NBA, having been named to six All-Defensive Teams and received DPOTY votes in six seasons. Stephon Castle was drafted fourth overall by the San Antonio Spurs in 2024 with the hopes that he could be a point-of-attack defender to give the Spurs a devastating defensive unit centered on Victor Wembanyama.

Both are physical guards who aren't known for their offense but can get a bucket when needed, and both have and will play off-ball.

Dan Hurley, who coached Castle to a national championship at UConn, went on The Ryen Russillo Podcast before the draft to offer a comparison between Castle and Holiday.

"I liken him to a Jrue Holiday type of guard, in terms of defensive stopper, in 1-4 positions because of the size and their physical strength, a guy who's on the ball and can make all the right reads, has got the finishing ability at the rim," said Hurley. "You saw Jrue Holiday in those quick roles as a guard and the havoc that created with the Maviercks' defense in the Finals."

Now, Hurley would naturally be eager to compare one of his players to an NBA champion, but is it an accurate evaluation? Both are physical, dominating defenders who can guard larger players and get back on defense in the open court, but Holiday thrives as a catch-and-shoot threat, shooting over 40 percent from deep over the last four seasons.

Castle shot 26.7 percent from three in college. Entering the NBA, he does not have the floor-spacing abilities that Holiday does. However, he was drafted as a polished defensive talent and a raw offensive project. Only time will tell if Castle can add to his offensive arsenal.

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For what it's worth, Hurley thinks Castle has the work ethic to expand on his game. "He's a ball player, he loves the game," he explained. "He's a winner, he's got a humility about him."