Shannon Sharpe calls out the ‘dumb’ plays Spurs star Stephon Castle needs to cut out of his game

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Shannon Sharpe praised Stephon Castle’s talent after the San Antonio Spurs’ Game 3 win, but he also made clear that the rookie guard still has mistakes to cut out.

The Spurs needed that kind of performance at Madison Square Garden. Down 2-0 in the NBA Finals, San Antonio had to survive a loud New York Knicks crowd, Donald Trump’s security-heavy visit, and a late push from Jalen Brunson’s team.

Castle helped the Spurs do that, but his night was not clean enough for Sharpe to ignore. The former NFL star saw a young player with huge upside, and also a few decisions that could have made the win harder than it needed to be.

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Shannon Sharpe calls out Stephon Castle after San Antonio Spurs beat New York Knicks​

Shannon Sharpe on X reacted to Stephon Castle’s Game 3 performance after the Spurs beat the Knicks 115-111 at Madison Square Garden.

“Castle is a phenomenal player and will only get better. He plays really dumb basketball at times,” Sharpe said.

He added, “Shoving OG on a 3, turning it over led 2 another 3 wild shot which led 2 more pts. The really dumb fouls is what’s really annoying.”

Sharpe’s criticism was sharp, but it was not a dismissal of Castle. He led with the compliment because the flashes were obvious, then pointed to the fouls, turnovers, and rushed decisions that still show up in high-pressure moments.

That balance made the post feel fair. Castle was good enough to matter in a Finals win, but loose enough to frustrate anyone watching San Antonio try to protect a road lead.

Stephon Castle delivers for San Antonio Spurs despite Game 3 mistakes​

Castle finished with 23 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in 38 minutes as San Antonio cut New York’s series lead to 2-1. He shot efficiently, hit a crucial late three, and added free throws that helped the Spurs close out the 115-111 win.

The problem was that his mistakes were visible too. He had two turnovers and four fouls, and Sharpe zeroed in on the kind of plays that can swing a Finals game quickly, especially against a Knicks team that punishes extra possessions.

That is the tension with Castle right now. His size, confidence, and shot-making make him look ready for the stage, but his decision-making still catches up to him at times.

For the Spurs, the upside is worth living with. For Sharpe, the message was simple: Castle can be special, but the careless plays cannot travel with him much longer.

Read more:

• Spurs guard opens up on the biggest difference between Jalen Brunson and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
• Stephon Castle’s mother has an inspiring message after San Antonio Spurs suffer Game 1 defeat in NBA Finals
• Stephon Castle joins Kobe, Westbrook and Shai in rare Western Conference Finals company

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