Spurs sophomore Stephon Castle talks with the media before Friday’s game on Team Melo.
Castrol Rising Stars participants, including Kon Knueppel, Zaccharie Risacher, Stephon Castle, Cedric Coward and others, participated in a Reddit AMA during media day on Thursday. Check out what they had to say.
QUESTION
What is the most challenging aspect of transitioning from college or international play to the NBA?
Egor Dёmin, Brooklyn Nets
Probably the speed and physicality. Just how fast and how grown everybody is. It’s a different style of basketball for sure.
What do you wish you worked on more in high school?
Zaccharie Risacher, Atlanta Hawks
Just enjoy the process! I have a lot of good memories in high school so just be happy to be a kid and enjoy the process. Work hard and that’s really it.
Keshad Johnson, Miami Heat
I would just say go out there and have more fun in high school. Don’t worry about rankings, and don’t worry about what other people are doing, just focus on yourself and compete against yourself every single day.
How far back in time do you have to go where watching the games you notice lots of obvious strategic mistakes they’re making that teams wouldn’t make nowadays?
Cedric Coward, Memphis Grizzlies
Besides myself, I would say Cam Spencer has a really good memory. Cam has, like me, a little bit of a photographic memory in that you can tell him something, and he will remember the play and the results of the play. Him and Ty Jerome too. Ty Jerome has a really good memory. But I am number 1 for sure. I can remember a lot of things, like I can remember certain plays, games, and how certain things led to other things. Things like that!
Kel’el Ware, Miami Heat
I would say Pat [Riley]. Technically, he is part of the organization, but I would say Pat has some crazy memory.
Jeremiah Fears, New Orleans Pelicans
Either me or Derik Queen. Or DeAndre Jordan. Maybe DeAndre Jordan, because he’ll tell us something or do something, and he will never forget. He will bring it up three weeks later or a month and a half later. Like alright bro how do you still remember that. Mine is not bad, but probably DeAndre Jordan to not pick myself.
If you had the chance to play alongside any player in your team’s history, who would it be?
Yanic Konan Niederhauser, Los Angeles Clippers
Jamal Crawford! That would be cool, he could throw me some lobs between the legs.
Kyshawn George, Washington Wizards
I would probably say Michael Jordan, he is the greatest of all time.
Jase Richardson, Orlando Magic
Penny Hardaway. I just want to see what his bag looked like in real time. You can always watch the highlights, but it’s always different in person, so I would definitely want to watch that.
What is the most challenging thing to repeat season to season in the NBA in your game?
Jaylon Tyson, Cleveland Cavaliers
We talk about this in the locker room, but the shooting and the 3-point percentages and all that. I feel like some years you have great years and some years you have solid years, and I think that is the hardest thing to replicate.
What off the court achievement(s) are you most proud of?
Cam Spencer, Memphis Grizzlies
My brothers and I just started a foundation this year to give back to veterans and people in the military. So getting that up and running was pretty special, and now we will have an inaugural event each year that we will do back at home, so that is something I am proud of.
Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images
What do you do with your free time on road games?
Jaylen Wells, Memphis Grizzlies
I like to edit videos, and I have a nonprofit called “Sleep Nation,” so I like to help produce content for that. We try to uplift underprivileged kids and try to surround it around basketball, so that is the main thing I spend my time on.
Which rising stars are you looking forward to playing with/against tomorrow?
Tre Johnson, Washington Wizards
Playing with all the guys on team T-Mac. The new addition, Bub Carrington, and then playing against anybody else on the opposing team.
Ron Harper Jr., Boston Celtics
Dylan Harper. I’m looking forward to playing against Dylan Harper.
Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs
I am looking forward to playing with DC again, Donovan Clingan, my college teammate, so that’s going to be fun. I don’t remember who is all on the other teams, but probably Bub Carrington. I am looking forward to playing against him.
Dylan Harper, San Antonio Spurs
My brother, Ron Harper Jr., I try to keep the bias out of the way, but definitely him. I want to guard him. I hope he guards me. It’s gonna be a great matchup, it’s just that brotherly love we all got.
What was your “welcome to the league” moment?
Alex Sarr, Washington Wizards
Jayson Tatum hit two step-back threes on me in a row.
Cedric Coward, Memphis Grizzlies
My welcome to the league moment was when we were playing the Golden State Warriors, and Steph Curry hit me with the heck-a-dribble moves and shoots a step-back three on the left wing. And I don’t know if he no-looked it, but I know that before the ball went in, he started running down to the other end of the court and did his little shimmy stuff. That was like my “dang, I saw this on TV and now it just happened on me.
Collin Murray-Boyles, Toronto Raptors
My welcome to the league moment was guarding Giannis. Don’t even need to explain that one.
Carter Bryant, San Antonio Spurs
I wouldn’t say I have had a very specific one yet, but a very welcome to the league moment for me was I chasing KD off a pindown, and I probably jumped the highest I ever jumped in my life for a contest, and me and him our fingers interlocked, and he shot it on the right elbow and it was just straight net.
Knueppel, with all the comparisons you’ve been getting to Steph’s rookie season — do you think you’ll ever pass him for most 3 pointers made?
I gotta play a long time, so hopefully! I am not quite sure.
(Hopefully to someone 6’8″ or taller)
How often do you hit your head on the tops of doorframes?
Derik Queen, New Orleans Pelicans
I just always be ducking down. I don’t do it, I don’t hit my head often because I have just been always so aware of myself.
Matas Buzelis, Chicago Bulls
I’m not gonna lie, I ususally hit my head on the bus like walking on to the bus. Going to shootarounds or leaving to games. Doorframes I am kind of aware not, I don’t bump into them much.
