It’s not just Wembanyama: Spurs star mirrors Tony Parker vs Portland as stats confirm
Photo by J Pat Carter/Getty Images Victor Wembanyama dominated headlines as the San Antonio Spurs secured a 111-98 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in the opening game of their playoff series last Sunday. His 35-point display set the tone early. The French star also reached historic milestones, including a record-breaking first half and a franchise-best playoff debut scoring total.
His performance reinforced San Antonio’s growing belief that they can contend deep into the postseason. However, the Spurs’ success was not built on one player alone. Alongside Wembanyama’s brilliance, another young talent delivered a performance that quietly echoed one of the franchise’s most iconic figures.
Stephon Castle matches Spurs standard last seen with Tony Parker Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images Stephon Castle produced a complete performance against Portland, finishing with 17 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in the playoff opener. According to StatMuse, Castle became the first Spurs point guard to record at least 15 points, five rebounds and five assists in a playoff game since Tony Parker. Parker last achieved those numbers in May 2016, when San Antonio defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 100-96.
On that occasion, he posted 19 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Stephon Castle shows signs of carrying regular season form into playoffs Castle’s performance did not come out of nowhere, as it closely mirrors his production during the regular season. Across 69 games, he averaged 16.
7 points, 5. 3 rebounds and 7. 4 assists per game, numbers that align closely with his playoff debut.