NBA FINALS: KNICKS VS. SPURS

June 8, 2026

Stephon Castle

San Antonio Spurs

Game 3: Postgame

San Antonio Spurs 115, New York Knicks 111

Q. What do you think the difference was in this close fourth quarter as opposed to the previous few close fourth quarters?

STEPHON CASTLE: I think finishing our possessions late with the rebound defensively. I mean, whether we were playing fast out of it or slowing it down, I think just not allowing them to get second-chance buckets, especially late.

I feel like those are when they hurt the most. I think we did a good job closing out possessions.

Q. The three-pointer you hit with a little under two minutes to go, Vic throws you the ball late clock, you have to do something with it. What's going through your mind in that situation? Is there even time?

STEPHON CASTLE: I saw the clock the whole time. I mean, yeah, I was just waiting on it just in case he did pass it. I was honestly getting ready to go and crash and try and rebound.

Late clock, at that point in the game I feel like you have to be alert, know the clock. I was just able to get enough space to get one off.

Q. This is a gutsy win in front of a rocking Madison Square Garden crowd. How did you and your teammates come together in the face of the adversity of playing in Madison Square Garden, first Finals game in 30 years?

STEPHON CASTLE: Just like you said, it's their first Finals game in 30 years. We expected it to be loud in here. I mean, we said coming into the game, they're going to have their runs, they're going to make shots. When that happens, just stick together, stay poised. I mean, just really play together.

I feel like we did that for a majority of the 48 minutes. I feel like that's why we came out on top.

Q. Even on nights when De'Aaron is not shooting at his best, he finds ways to impact the offense. How would you describe your trust in him when the game gets late?

STEPHON CASTLE: I think Fox is such a smart player. Having the ball in his hands late is like a comfort thing for us. I feel like whether he's shooting the ball well or not, he generates a good shot for us pretty much every time.

I think his ability to touch the paint against whoever, whether it's a layup for himself like he did late or finding kick-outs like he did for Dev especially late, those are all big-time plays.

I mean, the box score doesn't always show it. The way he's affected our team all year is the reason why we're here.

Q. Victor was in here and said you might be the most mature player on the team. What do you think of that assessment?

STEPHON CASTLE: I don't know [smiling].

Q. Do you feel like the most mature player on the team?

STEPHON CASTLE: I mean, I might be. Honestly, probably yeah, other than Vic. I mean, yeah, probably Vic would be number one. I don't go to sleep at 9 p.m., so...

I'm probably a close second.

Q. This series has been probably one of the most physical that I can recall in recent memory. What is your mindset as you continue to play? How do you continue playing through the fouls as the momentum goes back and forth?

STEPHON CASTLE: I mean, it's basketball at the end of the day. I mean, Playoffs have really been physical for us leading up to this moment. I feel like our previous series kind of prepared us for the physicality that they bring.

I feel like we're just built for it. I mean, we have a lot of guys that aren't going to back down. I mean, we all stand together regardless of what happens on the court.

I mean, us just being physical throughout the whole 48 minutes, I feel like it's grown, it's part of the brand of our basketball.

Q. You got the Spurs back into the series. What is the biggest challenge heading into Game 4?

STEPHON CASTLE: Probably just not getting bored with the things that worked for us, sticking with the process even though it might not work out all the time. They might make a shot. They might get an offensive rebound. Sticking with our process and not getting bored with it. Understanding what won us this game and bring it into the next game.

Q. You guys seemed like you're at your best when you're able to get to the rim. You did that a lot tonight. Do you feel like the Knicks tried to make some adjustments throughout these games to wall off the paint as best they can? What do you need to do to continue to get to the rim?

STEPHON CASTLE: I wouldn't say they made too big of adjustments against us. I feel like that's just how they play, honestly. Watching them throughout the year, playing them early in the year, they always load the paint.

I mean, yeah, just us playing to our strengths, not allowing that to stop our aggressiveness getting to the paint. Just understanding when we're being aggressive and touching the paint, it's not always for us to score. I feel like that opens up passing lanes and puts them in rotations.

I feel like when we change sides and move the ball like that, especially after a paint touch, I feel like we're pretty hard to stop.

Q. Obviously long way to go, but what is the relief in getting a win here?

STEPHON CASTLE: I don't know. I don't know if I would say 'relief'. I feel like we still haven't really done anything. Obviously, we're still down 2-1. We're looking forward to the next 48 minutes.

I mean, yeah, whether we won or lost this game, the series wouldn't have been over for us. Obviously, it feels good to win, especially on the road after dropping two bad ones.

I mean, yeah, I think our confidence has been the same throughout this series regardless of what happened. I feel like we're just looking forward to the next 48.

Q. Part of reason why Victor was praising your maturity was because of the free throws you hit at the end. He said he didn't really hear the crowd. It was loud. What was going through your mind during that situation? Did you hear them all?

STEPHON CASTLE: I mean, it felt great. I mean, obviously you hear them. You're in the arena. I mean, at that point it's just you and the rim, honestly. We work on pressure free throws, situations like that all the time when we're in the gym. Obviously, you can't replicate anything like that.

I think just to go up there and just our will and want to win, I feel like no matter who went up there and went to the line, I feel like we would have knocked them down.

Q. It seems like your ball pressure and denial has gotten the Knicks out of a lot of the ball movement they've been doing. Would you still say you've done a good job this game? How would you classify it?

STEPHON CASTLE: I mean, I have to go back and watch it. But, I mean, just going off of looking back on it right now, I feel like my aggressiveness throughout the game was pretty consistent, pretty solid. I probably picked up a couple bad fouls. I mean, they didn't really hurt me too bad. I didn't have to come out the game for any of them.

Yeah, just trying to use my aggressiveness, but still stay smart while doing it. I feel like we did a good job.