by The San Antonio Spurs’ trio of guards, De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper, has been a pivotal part of the team’s early-season success, as evidenced by their path to the NBA Cup championship.
Each of these guards provides essential contributions to the team, including playmaking, paint pressure, and the ability to initiate the offense. With their incredible play, they have the Spurs at 9-3 this season in Victor Wembanyama‘s absence.
De’Aaron Fox
Many have grown numb to Fox’s consistent production, averaging nearly 25 points and over six assists over the past six seasons. This season, he has taken a step up — he is shooting a career-high 39.1% from three and 61.1% true shooting.
His scoring and increased efficiency have been a significant reason for the Spurs’ 122 offensive rating with him on the court.
One downside to Fox’s aging game is his decline in rim-scoring. At his athletic peak, he was one of the best finishers in the league, at one point ranking in the 100th percentile as a rim finisher. He is now closer to average efficiency there. However, his rim presence has not substantially affected the Spurs’ offense because of Castle and Harper’s exceptional paint pressure.
Stephon Castle
The reigning Rookie of the Year has avoided the sophomore slump. In his expanded role, Castle has continued to show his capabilities as a franchise cornerstone. His two-point percentage has gone up over 10%, his mid-range percentage has gone from 33% to 51%, and his assists have gone up to nearly seven per game.
Getting a shot at the rim has always been Castle’s intent, as he is at the 91st and 95th percentiles in rim frequency in his career, and he has shot 5% better at the rim this season. His patience, strength, and verticality provide him with numerous opportunities in the paint and around the rim.
Although Castle has noticeably improved in several aspects of his game, he still has plenty of room for improvement. He remains a poor three-point shooter, failing to reach 30% in his first two seasons. Another glaring flaw in his game is the inability to handle the ball. He is averaging the second-most turnovers per game in the NBA this season (4.1).
Castle has shown impressive growth this season, which has helped put the Spurs in a prime playoff position.
Dylan Harper
The sky is the limit for the exhilarating rookie. Harper is one of the most advanced 19-year-olds in NBA history. His excellent decision-making, paint creativity, and solid defense leave him as one of the best building blocks in the league.
Of these three guards, Harper has the smallest role, playing just 21.9 minutes per game, but his impact is far from unnoticed. Per 36 minutes, he averages over 21 points, six assists, and 1.5 steals per game.
Throughout the pre-draft process and during his rookie season, Harper’s ability in the paint has been his greatest strength. He has a wide range of moves, can finish with either hand, and demonstrates exceptional patience, with multiple skills that are difficult to teach.
Like many young guards, scoring efficiency is the clear problem in Harper’s game, but he has shown all the tools needed to create his own shot, get to his spots, and there is no reason not to believe he will improve his shooting percentages.
The Spurs’ trio of young guards has been a sight to behold this season, only getting better with time.
