The San Antonio Spurs do have a way of making everyone feel they struck draft gold. But in a league captivated by Victor Wembanyama, a new conversation is taking shape about who truly drives this team forward. And it’s not just getting Victor Wembanyama in 2023. Their series against the Portland Trail Blazers has shown that even with Wembanyama sidelined while recovering from a concussion, another voice can steady the group and push them to a win. That’s where Draymond Green enters the conversation, someone who has spent his career alongside a generational superstar and understands what makes a team function at its core.

Building on that perspective, Green didn’t hold back on a recent episode of his podcast, delivering a take that immediately stirred debate around the Spurs’ pecking order. He spotlighted second-year guard Stephon Castle as a potential turning point for the franchise. His argument leans heavily on their 2026 first-round playoff matchup against Portland, a series he confidently predicted would end in five games in San Antonio’s favor. After today’s 114-93 win, that prediction suddenly looks far less bold, with the Spurs now holding a commanding 3-1 lead.

Green declared, “Stephon Castle’s been incredible.” He also agreed with the ‘hot take’ online that Castle is on the path to All-NBA honors, claiming, “Stephon Castle is a winner. Stephon Castle is a special player. And to see him taking this leap in these playoffs like this, I think in these playoffs, he has been the most important player for the Spurs.”

But he laments that he’s in a 7’5 shadow. “He’ll never get credit for being the most important player because they got Wemby,” Green stated. Despite the unanimous Defensive Player of the Year, Green’s argument isn’t just about box scores; it’s about a fundamental shift in team identity. “But man, you take Stephon Castle off that team, that is a completely different team. That kid there, I think, is special.”

What elevates Green’s insight beyond typical hype is his emphasis on replaceability, or the lack thereof, in modern NBA roster construction. As a four-time champion who anchored the Warriors’ dynasty alongside Stephen Curry, Green knows that transcendent talent like Wembanyama creates gravity and defensive anchors few can replicate.

Yet he highlights Castle’s rarer skill set: a 6’6″ guard with elite playmaking (averaging over 7 assists per game in the regular season and stepping up with multiple 5+ assist playoff outings), physical versatility on both ends, and the competitive wiring to elevate teammates when the superstar is unavailable. In Game 3 without Wembanyama, Castle dropped 33 points on efficient shooting while organizing the offense, proving he can function as a primary initiator rather than just a complementary piece.

This isn’t mere box-score watching. Green’s point stresses a deeper truth about championship contention: superstars win games, but connective tissue—high-IQ, two-way guards who raise the floor, often decide series.

Remove a rim-protecting, spacing-altering 7’5″ phenom and the drop-off is obvious but manageable with scheme and depth; subtract a guard who collapses defenses with drives, finds shooters in rhythm, and competes physically against backcourts, and the entire half-court ecosystem frays.

Castle’s blend of size, vision, and winner’s mentality (echoing Green’s own reputation) creates a different identity for these young Spurs- one less dependent on individual brilliance and more resilient through collective execution.

In an era of load-managed stars and injury risks, having a 21-year-old guard already exhibiting this level of playoff gravity may prove as valuable long-term as the unicorn at center.

While Wembanyama dominates headlines with his 8-foot wingspan and shot-blocking prowess, Green argues that Castle’s championship pedigree from his NCAA title run at UConn is the missing piece San Antonio has needed for years.

Stephon Castle makes Draymond Green’s point during Victor Wembanyama’s return

Draymond Green’s perspective challenges the ‘Wemby-centric’ narrative that has dominated the league since 2023. Green doubled down on the sentiment, emphasizing that Castle’s impact on the floor provides a stability that transcends Wembanyama’s statistical dominance.

Although he recorded this before Game 4, his comments are perfectly timed. Wemby returned tonight after suffering a concussion in Game 2 and missing Game 3. He recorded 27 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 blocks to boot. Castle had 16 points and 8 assists. But out of both of them, one was memorable.

Castle got into a scuffle with Blazers’ Deni Avdija in the final minutes of the game today. The bench-clearing argument needed players and staff from both teams to break up the fight. Both were given double techs, but no ejections happened. And that’s not discounting the 33-point explosion in the previous game that helped the Spurs break the series tie.

From where Green is seated, Castle’s ability to shoulder the offensive load alongside De’Aaron Fox has left Portland with no answers. And that’s also the reason he’s calling an early end to the Blazers’ season.