Spurs' Draft Pick Stephon Castle to Follow Celtics' Example

Say what you will about the Boston Celtics, but they were easily the best team in the NBA last season. Joe Mazzulla coached a well-oiled machine that was ruthlessly efficient on both sides of the ball, and the San Antonio Spurs, and teams around the league, are certainly trying to emulate it.

Yes, Jayson Tatum's "we did it" celebration was corny, and his complaints following his lack of minutes in the Olympics drew some criticism, but the Celtics have built the best team in the NBA, and Spurs' rookie Stephon Castle is paying attention.

Castle explained to The Ringer how the Celtics' versatility is exactly what he wants to emulate for the Spurs once he makes his debut.

“The Celtics had guards in the dunker spot to kind of mess with the other team’s defense,” Castle said. “Just seeing how many different places they had their guards in, doing a whole bunch of other different things on the court...I could definitely see myself in a system like that.”

Castle has been compared to Jrue Holiday. His elite, physical defense is similar to that of the two-time NBA champion's, and his willingness to take a back seat on offense and get open to make easy shots bodes well for the Spurs, who are looking to have Victor Wembanyama lead the way on both ends of the floor.

Castle's college head coach, Dan Hurley, called him "a ball player" who is willing to do what it takes to win, even if that means sacrificing his role as an individual, as Holiday has on two championship teams.

Related: Draft Pick Stephon Castle Brings 'Complete Game' to San Antonio Spurs

Until Castle's outside shot improves, expect him to be a menace in the paint, using his strength, physicality, and size to bully smaller guards on the way to the basket.

Don't expect Castle to take a page out of Tatum's celebration guide, but do expect him to emulate the Celtics on the court.