EMIRATES NBA CUP

December 13, 2025

Stephon Castle

San Antonio Spurs

Semifinal Postgame

San Antonio Spurs 111, Oklahoma City Thunder 109

Q. Steph, how important for you is it to remain aggressive on both ends of the floor, obviously in the time that Wemby was out, but tonight especially against the best team in the NBA?

STEPHON CASTLE: Yeah, it's super important. I feel like our defensive aggressiveness is non-negotiable, but offensively us being aggressive as guards and not just for to us score as far as the other teammates creating disadvantages, so I thought we got to do that for 48 minutes no matter what five is in.

Q. That's the biggest stage you guys have played on as a team. How did it feel like to finish that and how do you think you handled the late-game type of situations, I'm sure you've thought about it a lot?

STEPHON CASTLE: Yeah, felt good. This is our first game having everybody, so obviously that's a plus. I feel like we've been good in close games, crunch time games. Having Wemby back is a big plus. I think that's a big part of why we won that game, especially how he played in the second half. Obviously, job's not finished, but I'm happy with how we played tonight.

Q. What does a win like this do for you guys, especially since the goal is always to beat the best team in the league and you guys just handed them their second loss, what does this say about your team moving forward?

STEPHON CASTLE: Yeah, I think it just showed that we're serious. I think it shows our maturity down the line with whatever five is in the game. I feel like we have a lot of guys that can do it any given night. People are saying that they were unbeatable, but like I said earlier, we come into every game with that same mindset, so I think it just shows that what kind of team we are.

Q. Can you describe how when Wemby got into the game and kind of changed the entire energy for you guys, because we felt it in the arena, but how was it for you on the court?

STEPHON CASTLE: Yeah, it's hard to fill that void without Wemby playing. We know we have to lean on each other a lot more. So him being able to come in the game and draw two defenders automatically it just opens the court up for so many other players. And then obviously what he does on the defensive end is like nobody else in the league. Yeah, he's a big reason why we won tonight.

Q. You guys went 9-3 without Wemby. What did you guys learn about yourselves over that stretch in terms of winning, figuring out how to win without him?

STEPHON CASTLE: I just think how deep of a team we are. Across the line it could be anybody's night. So just leaning on each other and understanding that we need our other guys, everybody other than Vic, to step up in those games, and having Vic on the court shouldn't change that. I think it just gave us a lot more confidence in who we are as players.

Q. What impact has De'Aaron had on you so far?

STEPHON CASTLE: Yeah, just his aggressiveness, the way he sees the court. Just always telling me to attack, never shying away from the moment. High-IQ guard. So having him on the court just what he does on both sides takes a lot of pressure off of us.