UConn in the NBA Oct 2025 | Page 2 | The Boneyard
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UConn in the NBA Oct 2025

REB1094 said:
McNeeley was a DNP-CD yesterday. Surprising considering the Hornets won by 20. Sion James even found 16 minutes

Tyrese had the most minutes off the bench for Brooklyn. Finished with 5 points on 2-8 with 5 assists and 3 rebounds

Drummond only had 2 minutes off bench for Philly. Embiid played 20 minutes, Adem Bona was first big off the bench with 14 minutes

Hawkins 17 minutes off bench. Took 2 shots (both threes) and 2 FTs. Made them all, 8 points on 100% and 4 rebounds

Just 1 minute for AJax, no stats

Castle 22 points in 28 minutes on 8-12 shooting. 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals. And apparently locked up Cooper Flagg. Let’s gooooo

Clingan 8 points, 6 rebounds, 1 block in 30 minutes including 2 threes. Didn't watch but twitter says he was a beast on defense
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Spencer also did well in spot duty. 7 points in 12 minutes (2-3 from 3, but missed a FT so the 50-40-90 hopes took a hit, haha). Also 2 assists, no turnovers.
 
I have barley watched any NBA over the last several years. But last night, I was GLUED to the TV watching Steph and Wemby. I was also checking box scores for Hawkins, Clingan, Cam, Andre, and Liam last night too (unfortunately Andre and Liam barely played).

Steph looked really good. His defense on Flagg was very impressive and Jay Bilas was giving him a ton of praise as the color commenter. He also is ferocious going to the rim and can finish through contact really well, looks very much improved.

Lastly, Wemby is insane. if his body holds up, he is going to be the best player in the league for a long time.
 
LetsGoUC said:
I have barley watched any NBA over the last several years. But last night, I was GLUED to the TV watching Steph and Wemby. I was also checking box scores for Hawkins, Clingan, Cam, Andre, and Liam last night too (unfortunately Andre and Liam barely played).

Steph looked really good. His defense on Flagg was very impressive and Jay Bilas was giving him a ton of praise as the color commenter. He also is ferocious going to the rim and can finish through contact really well, looks very much improved.

Lastly, Wemby is insane. if his body holds up, he is going to be the best player in the league for a long time.
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Same. I haven’t watched the NBA before Christmas in quite a while. But Steph, Cam, DC and the rest have renewed my interest in regular season.
 
HW611 said:
For Steph, first start of his sophomore year at his natural position. Against probably one of the best defensive teams in the league with the size and length to make it difficult for his drives.

Still doubt he could have an SGA trajectory? @CardiacAndre7
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He's significantly more athletic and more powerful than SGA. Better defender, better passer but if he wants to be an MVP someday and a total scoring machine like SGA he needs to make huge improvements with his shot.
 
superjohn said:
He's significantly more athletic and more powerful than SGA. Better defender, better passer but if he wants to be an MVP someday and a total scoring machine like SGA he needs to make huge improvements with his shot.
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I think the passing is pretty equal, and Shai himself is also a good defender, really good hands and good in passing lanes, but Steph can guard bigger probably.

The offensive game is where the huge difference is. Shai is head and shoulders above anyone not named Jokic on that end. It’s not an insult to say I don’t think Steph can get to that level, only a handful of people in the history of the game could.
 
superjohn said:
He's significantly more athletic and more powerful than SGA. Better defender, better passer but if he wants to be an MVP someday and a total scoring machine like SGA he needs to make huge improvements with his shot.
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His mid range more than anything. Shai makes a killing there. Castle has all the necessary size and strength to develop an elite game there.

Just hope he works on that early as a foundational piece before getting too hung up on the 3 point shot. That can come later.
 
CardiacAndre7 said:
I think the passing is pretty equal, and Shai himself is also a good defender, really good hands and good in passing lanes, but Steph can guard bigger probably.

The offensive game is where the huge difference is. Shai is head and shoulders above anyone not named Jokic on that end. It’s not an insult to say I don’t think Steph can get to that level, only a handful of people in the history of the game could.
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Luka and Cade are on/getting to that level. Brunson too but he’s just smaller so he doesn’t have the advantages SGA has at 6’6.

Anthony Edward’s, after getting beat in the WCF by Shai, spent a summer working on his post game and getting tips from MJ. It’s going to take more than one summer but he’ll get there.

We see what Wemby looks like playing from that range too. As long as Castle puts his focuses in the right place development wise I don’t see a reason he can’t develop the same kind of game.
 
HW611 said:
Luka and Cade are on/getting to that level. Brunson too but he’s just smaller so he doesn’t have the advantages SGA has at 6’6.

Anthony Edward’s, after getting beat in the WCF by Shai, spent a summer working on his post game and getting tips from MJ. It’s going to take more than one summer but he’ll get there.

We see what Wemby looks like playing from that range too. As long as Castle puts his focuses in the right place development wise I don’t see a reason he can’t develop the same kind of game.
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Luka sure, but Shai is more efficient and doesn’t settle nearly as much. I don’t think Cade is on that level, he just has a somewhat similar game, just way less efficient shooting stats eFG% wise.
 
HW611 said:
His mid range more than anything. Shai makes a killing there. Castle has all the necessary size and strength to develop an elite game there.

Just hope he works on that early as a foundational piece before getting too hung up on the 3 point shot. That can come later.
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His mid-range, three point shot, and ft's need to get a lot better. He's already incredible at everything else and he'll have a physical advantage on just about everyone. He doesn't have a ceiling as a player.
 
superjohn said:
He's significantly more athletic and more powerful than SGA. Better defender, better passer but if he wants to be an MVP someday and a total scoring machine like SGA he needs to make huge improvements with his shot.
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Castle has a better vertical and more explosive 2 foot jumper, but Shai is able to do things with his body when dribbling/driving that are very rare and factor into his athleticism. Dude is 6'5" and is able to get his shins parallel to the court when crossing guys up, this type of stuff isn't common. As far as more powerful I haven't seen a defender survive the SGA shoulder bump without getting knocked off their square, he even did it to Zach Edey's big ass last year in a game.


 
I wish we could go into an alternate universe for a few minutes and watch Castle’s sophomore season at UConn. I’m thinking he would have looked like the most or 2nd most (but I’ll take him over Flagg) exciting player in the country. In the NBA, Castle is as exciting to watch as Terrence Shannon was for Illinois - when not getting locked in Castle’s dungeon.
 
imno1 said:
SGA is 27, has been in the league 7 years, and has gotten better ever season. Steph is only 20. I can’t wait to see him (and Wemby) in year 5 if healthy.
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Agreed, SGA made two big jumps in his career so far. From his rookie to sophomore year and then a huge jump in his fifth year.

If Castle wants to be on SGA's trajectory he needs to average 19/6/3 at 47/34/80 splits in 35 MPG this year. Those are SGA's year year two numbers. Very doable overall. The main question is the FT shooting. I think the 3PT% should be close and with a better whistle his FG% overall will be much better.

The next jump is when SGA went from 25 PPG -> 30+ PPG in his fifth year. That is going to be a much harder jump for Castle to make, especially and primarily with Wemby on his team eating a lot of the shots and rebounds (deservedly). If they remain on the same team, I could see Castle maxing out at 25/6/6 (or basically his game last night with better FT shooting and SGA's year four numbers).
 
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SGA is a high bar, but a SGA TYPE trajectory is what we've been saying, and that's certainly not out of the question.

Cade, SGA, a step above guys like Holiday, Derozan is what I'd expect.

Castle is a different player than these guys. He's not going to become the exact player SGA is, style-wise or maybe even offensive level. But being one of the top 2 way guards in the entire league for 10 years isn't out of the question, and that's what I think the projection is.
 
Mr. French said:
SGA is a high bar, but a SGA TYPE trajectory is what we've been saying, and that's certainly not out of the question.

Cade, SGA, a step above guys like Holiday, Derozan is what I'd expect.

Castle is a different player than these guys. He's not going to become the exact player SGA is, style-wise or maybe even offensive level. But being one of the top 2 way guards in the entire league for 10 years isn't out of the question, and that's what I think the projection is.
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Castle’s ceiling is Kobe Bryant-esque with more assists. Store the receipt.
 

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