San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle will miss at least the next week after being diagnosed with a left hip flexor strain ahead of November 18’s nationally televised game against the Memphis Grizzlies. The second-year guard will be re-evaluated in 1-2 weeks, according to a report from ESPN’s Shams Charania. The injury rules out one of the NBA’s breakout guards for the Spurs’ NBC showcase and adds to a growing injury list that already includes star big man Victor Wembanyama. Spurs Rule Stephon Castle Out With Hip Flexor Before National NBC Showcase Castle had already been ruled out of Tuesday’s matchup against Memphis with hip soreness, his first missed game of the season, after getting banged up during San Antonio’s win over the Sacramento Kings. Further testing revealed a left hip flexor strain, and the 21-year-old will now be sidelined for at least 1-2 weeks before the team checks his progress again. The timing is brutal for both Castle and the Spurs. San Antonio’s home game against the Grizzlies at Frost Bank Center was flexed into a nationwide NBC and Peacock window, giving the young team one of its biggest regular-season stages in years. Instead, the reigning Rookie of the Year will watch from the bench, having opened his sophomore campaign with averages of 17. 3 points, 7. 5 assists and 5. 8 rebounds per game while emerging as the Spurs’ top perimeter playmaker. Castle’s injury comes just days after Wembanyama was diagnosed with a left calf strain that’s expected to sideline the All-Star big man for a few weeks. With both of their young cornerstones out, the Spurs’ feel-good start has hit its first major speed bump, and it’s hitting right as the entire country tunes in. What Stephon Castle’s Injury Means for the Spurs On the floor, Castle’s absence creates a massive hole in San Antonio’s backcourt. The 6-foot-6 guard has been Mitch Johnson’s do-everything connector, leading the team in assists while guarding top perimeter options and pushing the ball in transition. Without him, De’Aaron Fox will shoulder even more of the playmaking and shot-creation burden, while Devin Vassell likely takes on tougher defensive assignments on the wing. San Antonio will also need more minutes and scoring from its supporting cast. Julian Champagnie has already been mentioned as a potential starter in Castle’s place, while wings like Lindy Waters III and rookie Carter Bryant could see expanded roles to help soak up backcourt and wing minutes. The Spurs have started 9-4 and sit near the top of the Western Conference standings after a red-hot October behind Wembanyama’s MVP-level numbers and Castle’s all-around leap. Now they’ll try to stabilize without either of them, at least for a short stretch. If Castle’s re-evaluation in 1-2 weeks goes well, his absence could be limited to a handful of games. But hip flexor injuries can be tricky, and with San Antonio already taking a cautious approach with Wembanyama’s calf, there’s little incentive to rush another young cornerstone back too quickly. Stats, Schedule & Injury Context for the Spurs Even with Castle and Wembanyama sidelined, the Spurs have built enough of an early cushion to survive a brief dip as long as the injuries don’t linger into December. Castle’s season so far 17. 3 points per game 7. 5 assists per game (team-leading) 5. 8 rebounds per game Reigning 2024-25 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year Wembanyama’s 2025-26 numbers before the calf strain 26. 2 points per game 12. 9 rebounds per game 4. 0 assists per game 3. 6 blocks per game, among league leaders Upcoming Spurs schedule (all at Frost Bank Center unless noted): Where To Watch: vs. Memphis Grizzlies 8 p. m. ET, NBC/Peacock Thursday: vs. Atlanta Hawks national broadcast on NBA TV Beginning this weekend: four-game road trip featuring stops in Phoenix, Portland, Denver and Minnesota Castle’s 1-2 week timeline means he’s likely to miss at least a portion of that road swing, with a best-case scenario having him return sometime around the start of December assuming his re-evaluation brings good news. For now, the Spurs’ national TV spotlight against Memphis becomes a different kind of showcase: a test of how well San Antonio’s depth and new-look backcourt can hold up without the franchise’s two young stars.
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