Steph Castle goes off for 32.

[3rdbass]

I honestly think we would be undefeated if we had him. Maybe we lose 1 game in Maui to Auburn in the championship but theres no way we have any other losses this year with him. He's exactly what we are missing. Elite passer, elite driver, elite defender. All in one player.

Yep and to think that Hurley didn't see we would be missing this on a very undersized back court is astonishing to me. I think all the board were worried at least about rebounding and D. Scoring and passing we thought we had covered with Mahaney/Nowell. Actually Hurley missed on both points with that combo.

 

[Deleted at users request]

Of course the NBA Rookie of the Year would’ve been great for this team. Can we imagine Clingan back too?

The better question is imagine how great he would have looked playing his natural position last year.

If he was the star freshman who lead one of the greatest runs of all time he’s easily going #1 and would’ve had the praise he’s getting now last year. College basketball career is probably remembered a lot more highly.

Kid sacrificed A LOT.

 

[aburks41]

Yep and to think that Hurley didn't see we would be missing this on a very undersized back court is astonishing to me.

Yup. Hindsight is 20/20 but it doomed us from day 1. Rosters with more athletic wings and an elite rim protector can get away with short guards. We don’t have that though. Really not sure what their vision was lol but they are course correcting that for next season I can guarantee you that

 

[aburks41]

Wait....Tarris as in Tarris read is in the convo for best finisher around the basket at UConn of all time now?

Word?

Yeah…no. Funny enough, Samson Johnson has the highest FG% in UConn history by a wide margin

 

[Umami Zen]

Spacing in NBA allows Steph to use his natural skills. Plays under control and can flip the switch and explode to the basket. He was an excellent teammate at UConn who played a valuable role for a NC team. Spurs know they hit the Lottery with him.

 

[August_West]

The kid is so strong. Like freakish. He was a brick wall as a frosh.

 

[businesslawyer]

Of course the NBA Rookie of the Year would’ve been great for this team. Can we imagine Clingan back too?

The better question is imagine how great he would have looked playing his natural position last year.

If he was the star freshman who lead one of the greatest runs of all time he’s easily going #1 and would’ve had the praise he’s getting now last year. College basketball career is probably remembered a lot more highly.

Kid sacrificed A LOT.

If you don't think NBA scouts are smart enough to value a player who sacrifices his personal output for that of the team around him, I don't know what to tell you.

 

[Deleted at users request]

If you don't think NBA scouts are smart enough to value a player who sacrifices his personal output for that of the team around him, I don't know what to tell you.

Don’t make yourself seem stupid because you want to have your cape on.

There’s more than enough evidence out there scouts weren’t expecting this. Mostly because they didn’t see it here.

 

[businesslawyer]

Don’t make yourself seem stupid because you want to have your cape on.

There’s more than enough evidence out there scouts weren’t expecting this. Mostly because they didn’t see it here.

You're talking about him like he was an undrafted free agent. He was a high lottery pick, and might have gone number one if he had proven he could hit outside shots (and his percentage would not have been higher here if he was more ball dominant).

 

[Scottzer]

So you are the one that though he was NBA average? To me as seen in the Tik Tok video above he is anything but NBA average. He was always a lever above that but weren't sure if he could elevate that since he was just coming back from a knee injury last year. In the final four watching him live my younger brother and i knew he was going to be a great NBA athlete with how he played in those 2 games. The thing is Steph is doing stuff Andre should be doing if he had any NBA offensive skills which sadly he

So you are the one that though he was NBA average? To me as seen in the Tik Tok video above he is anything but NBA average. He was always a lever above that but weren't sure if he could elevate that since he was just coming back from a knee injury last year. In the final four watching him live my younger brother and i knew he was going to be a great NBA athlete with how he played in those 2 games. The thing is Steph is doing stuff Andre should be doing if he had any NBA offensive skills which sadly he doesn't.

I don’t think I was the only person to think he was NBA average for athleticism. I got fooled by him not having Kemba speed, jump out of the gym blocks, etc. in college, there wasn’t that much sizzle to his game - it was all steak. In the NBA, I’m seeing sizzle and steak.
My evaluation for him was a boom or bust guy, and I thought he would boom just based upon strength, development, and continued D. But, damn, he is so fun to watch unleashed.!

 

[knicksin7]

I'm going to push back on the insinuation that Liam isn't athletic. He may not be a leaper but for instance his speed, and strength are definitely above average.

"deceptively quick"
"a gym rat"
"born winner"

 

[knicksin7]

I don’t think I was the only person to think he was NBA average for athleticism. I got fooled by him not having Kemba speed, jump out of the gym blocks, etc. in college, there wasn’t that much sizzle to his game - it was all steak. In the NBA, I’m seeing sizzle and steak.
My evaluation for him was a boom or bust guy, and I thought he would boom just based upon strength, development, and continued D. But, damn, he is so fun to watch unleashed.!

He is incredibly athletic from a hand/eye coordination standpoint, from a sprint/jump standpoint, he's probably 75th percentile NBA average - but that is in the 0.0001% of normal humans. He's not peak DRose, Morant, LeBron, Westbrook, Amen Thompson, john Wall in terms of raw speed, vertical but he's really up there. Albeit, he jumped a lot higher than I thought possible in the dunk contest.

 

[c29328]

I said this once before but he seems so in control and possessed of himself that it looks like he only shows the amount of athleticism he needs to make a play sometimes. There will be a time he needs something extraordinary like having to come in for a block weak side, or a steal, or a blow by and its a double take watching it. Like "where did that come from". I saw more of those last year as the year went on. Iverson used to do it at the college level, albeit at a higher rate. Not comparing the two, just comparing the behavior.

 

[Deleted at users request]

You're talking about him like he was an undrafted free agent. He was a high lottery pick, and might have gone number one if he had proven he could hit outside shots (and his percentage would not have been higher here if he was more ball dominant).

He wouldve went #1 if he showed if he was a franchise superstar guard. And the role we put him in had everything to do with teams believing if he can be that or not. Which is silly given how clear it looks to everyone who can watch him now.

It had nothing to do with a jumpshot.

 

[superjohn]

Steph is a very good athlete but anyone comparing his athleticism to DRose didn't see peak DRose

I'm surprised by Castle's athleticism in the NBA, he's right up there already in the current league and he's putting people on posters routinely. I did not see this and I watched a fair amount of him before UConn and then everything at UConn.

Derrick Rose is like Barry Sanders in that he had to be seen to be believed. I watched pretty much every one of his games before the injury and I remember exactly how I felt when he got injured. The most athletic point guard ever hands down. He was freaky.

 

[3rdbass]

He is incredibly athletic from a hand/eye coordination standpoint, from a sprint/jump standpoint, he's probably 75th percentile NBA average - but that is in the 0.0001% of normal humans. He's not peak DRose, Morant, LeBron, Westbrook, Amen Thompson, john Wall in terms of raw speed, vertical but he's really up there. Albeit, he jumped a lot higher than I thought possible in the dunk contest.

No one is saying he is Elite athletic but definitely above average for NBA player. Probably a level below those you mentioned. He is a lot faster than you think. He makes some huge strides when he moves. Look at that Tik Tok video. I definitely start seeing some of that Great NBA athleticism we are seeing now. Plus, I'm sure the knee injury impacted his play but by the end of the season he was flying all over the court.

 

[3rdbass]

He wouldve went #1 if he showed if he was a franchise superstar guard. And the role we put him in had everything to do with teams believing if he can be that or not. Which is silly given how clear it looks to everyone who can watch him now.

It had nothing to do with a jumpshot.

The NBA is about having a jump shot. It is nice to jump out of the building like Ja Morant but if you can't shoot the ball in today's NBA it is going to hurt you. You can thank Steph and the Warrors for changing the NBA. Funny Steph Curry just did his first dunk in 6 years. He barely made it. LOL!

Golden State Warriors on Instagram: "Stephen Curry DUNKED THE BALL 💪"

262K likes, 901 comments - warriors on March 1, 2025: "Stephen Curry DUNKED THE BALL 💪".

www.instagram.com

 

[Deleted at users request]

The NBA is about having a jump shot. It is nice to jump out of the building like Ja Morant but if you can't shoot the ball in today's NBA it is going to hurt you. You can thank Steph and the Warrors for changing the NBA. Funny Steph Curry just did his first dunk in 6 years. He barely made it. LOL!

Golden State Warriors on Instagram: "Stephen Curry DUNKED THE BALL 💪"

262K likes, 901 comments - warriors on March 1, 2025: "Stephen Curry DUNKED THE BALL 💪".

www.instagram.com

Is that why one of the other bright young stars of today is Amen Thompson?

This train of thought is how the Rockets end up drafting Reed Sheppard over Castle lol

Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner have the Magic playing above their talent level while they both shoot 30% from the field.

 

[3rdbass]

Is that why one of the other bright young stars of today is Amen Thompson?

This train of thought is how the Rockets end up drafting Reed Sheppard over Castle lol

Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner have the Magic playing above their talent level while they both shoot 30% from the field.

Yeah Reed Sheppard player getting drafted that high when he is a 6-1 SG always baffled me. I know he was supposed to be a great shooter and athlete but he is puny and not the greatest dribbler in the world. Definitely not a person who really has PG instincts either.

 

[Deleted at users request]

Yeah Reed Sheppard player getting drafted that high when he is a 6-1 SG always baffled me. I know he was supposed to be a great shooter and athlete but he is puny and not the greatest dribbler in the world. Definitely not a person who really has PG instincts either.

They saw a guy who was a 52% 3 point shooter on high volume and had the train of thought shooting is the most important skill out there lol.

Just to see the guy who can’t shoot outside of 8 feet that they drafted the year before go out and become unbenchable.

 

[Travelman6]

I'm surprised by Castle's athleticism in the NBA, he's right up there already in the current league and he's putting people on posters routinely. I did not see this and I watched a fair amount of him before UConn and then everything at UConn.

Derrick Rose is like Barry Sanders in that he had to be seen to be believed. I watched pretty much every one of his games before the injury and I remember exactly how I felt when he got injured. The most athletic point guard ever hands down. He was freaky.

Prime rose vs prime AI would have been a treat. Two of the best athletes I've ever seen.

 

[3rdbass]

They saw a guy who was a 52% 3 point shooter on high volume and had the train of thought shooting is the most important skill out there lol.

Just to see the guy who can’t shoot outside of 8 feet that they drafted the year before go out and become unbenchable.

But his size will always be a detriment. For someone who can jump he has 1 dunk in Kentucky and none in the NBA. LOL! And you mentioned shooting. He is shooting 31% Overall and 27.5% from 3pt (worst than Castle who can't shoot from the outside.). LOL! I mean it could be worst and you draft Cody Williams. LOL!

 

[Deleted at users request]

But his size will always be a detriment. For someone who can jump he has 1 dunk in Kentucky and none in the NBA. LOL! And you mentioned shooting. He is shooting 31% Overall and 27.5% from 3pt (worst than Castle who can't shoot from the outside.). LOL! I mean it could be worst and you draft Cody Williams. LOL!

Yeah I never got the hype either. I like Dillingham more from his same team.

 

[RichZ]

He really should have stayed a second year...

Would have been good for us, but for him, going when he did was the right move at the right time.

 

[Dogdeacon]

The kid is so strong. Like freakish. He was a brick wall as a frosh.

I think a better way to characterize the perception while he was at UConn of Steph's athleticism was that it translated VERY well (or Elite if we have to use the talking head buzzword) on the defensive end, yet offensively while definitely NBA - more towards NBA average on the offensive end with tbd upside.

However, if you watched him play in the 2nd half of the season at UConn or just saw Steph up close standing next to college players it was abundantly clear that he was a different level athlete. The fact that he would finish 95%+ of fast break plays was indicative to me that the offense upside would come.

 

[Connhomer99]

Was watching the game yesterday, the way he gets to the hoop is something we haven't seen a lot before, even in the NBA. He has a unique bounce to his step, agility, maneuverability and bounce step towards the hoop. Dude obviously works hard as heck. He made some moves he didn't make at UCONN last year. He came a long way from the beginning of last season to the end of last season. And he's come a long way from the beginning to so far in this season. I think he'll be a great representation of our university for years and years to come. I'm so happy for him. He's gotta be one of my favorite huskies ever and what he's accomplished in the NBA only continues to add to that. Keep killing them steph!!!

 

[alphasigko]

He's making a very strong case for ROY!

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

I'm still laughing at posters who compared Liam to Steph as far as athletic talent. That was the biggest joke I saw on the BY. Not trying to put Liam down but

...I can't help myself

he is average at best Athlete and not in Steph's stratsophere.

...and it makes me start making writing mistakes

Actually some here thought Liam was just at Athletic.

...and then they start compounding.

 

[Excalibur]

Yeah Reed Sheppard player getting drafted that high when he is a 6-1 SG always baffled me. I know he was supposed to be a great shooter and athlete but he is puny and not the greatest dribbler in the world. Definitely not a person who really has PG instincts either.

The Rockets were laughed at when they made that pick.

 

[JakeTheDog]

I'm surprised by Castle's athleticism in the NBA, he's right up there already in the current league and he's putting people on posters routinely. I did not see this and I watched a fair amount of him before UConn and then everything at UConn.

Derrick Rose is like Barry Sanders in that he had to be seen to be believed. I watched pretty much every one of his games before the injury and I remember exactly how I felt when he got injured. The most athletic point guard ever hands down. He was freaky.

Thanks for the vid, that’s a joy to watch. DRose was so damn good.