ALL-STAR GAME: SHAQ'S OGS VS. CANDACE'S RISING STARS

February 16, 2025

Stephon Castle

Candace's Rising Stars

Press Conference

Semifinals: Shaq's OGs 42, Candace's Rising Stars 35

Q. You had a chance to play in the All-Star Game. What was it like?

STEPHON CASTLE: It was cool. Just the experience, just to be out there, it was fun.

Q. Can you sum up this whole weekend for yourself?

STEPHON CASTLE: I mean, I'd say it was a successful weekend. I got to participate in events all three days. As a rookie, I feel like that's a successful weekend.

Q. Do you like that format?

STEPHON CASTLE: I mean, I'm kind of 50/50 on it. I liked the opportunity for us to be able to go out there and play the All-Stars, but I feel like the All-Stars earned to play each other on Sundays, too.

Q. Who do you have in the last game?

STEPHON CASTLE: I'm going to go with Vic. Vic's team.

Q. All-Stars have been doing it for a very long time, but did you guys feel like the gap was that big between you guys and them?

STEPHON CASTLE: I mean, we play those guys year-round, so we all share the league together. They've been doing that for a minute now, but at the end of the day, it's still basketball. We'll go out there and just compete.

Q. With the target score, no time clock and all that, does it kind of bring feelings of nostalgia for playing in the park as a kid on the blacktop?

STEPHON CASTLE: Yeah, I'd say it brings a blacktop kind of vibe, different kind of scenery. You know once the game gets close to that target score, you see guys start to play a little harder, but yeah, it definitely has that kind of vibe.

Q. Is there anything you think you'd want to add or change to this format?

STEPHON CASTLE: Yeah, I would go back to the East-West that they had going. I don't remember the last year they stopped that, but I was a fan of East-West.

Q. What are your overall thoughts on competitiveness of this format?

STEPHON CASTLE: I mean, it was definitely nice to be part of. I mean, I feel like that's the big thing with guys not playing hard, not trying to get hurt. I understand that, too. But I feel like guys could play a little harder. I felt like they played hard.

Q. Anthony Edwards said his favorite part of All-Star Weekend was watching you play all weekend. Talk about your relationship.

STEPHON CASTLE: We're both from Atlanta. I just met him personally not too long ago, earlier in the season. But I've always been a big fan of his. I watched his high school games when I was -- I don't remember what grade I was in, but I wasn't too much younger than him, but watched his high school games, watched him at Georgia, and I'm a big fan of his, so it means a lot to hear it.