AT&T SLAM DUNK

February 15, 2025

Stephon Castle

Quick Quotes

Q. I know not the result you wanted, but what was that experience like, and feeding off the energy of the crowd and going against Mac in the final?

STEPHON CASTLE: Yeah, it was fun. Just coming into it, that was really one of the things I talked about was win or lose, I was happy just to be able to experience it.

Q. Talk about Mac's creativity on his dunks.

STEPHON CASTLE: Yeah, I mean, his dunks are crazy. I would give all his dunks 50, too, but I feel like he earned it and he did a great job.

Q. The first dunk in the final round, do you feel like you should have got a 50 on that one?

STEPHON CASTLE: Yeah, I feel like I should have got a 50. I lost the first one, so I kind of understand the 49, but I feel like it should be a 50.

Q. Did you leave anything on the cutting room floor? Did you leave anything out there?

STEPHON CASTLE: Yeah, I had a dunk for if it would have went to a dunk-off. I mean, I did, but I wasn't able to show it.

Q. What was that dunk?

STEPHON CASTLE: I'll probably save it for when I come back.

Q. I saw you lobbying to get a 50 on the second dunk.

STEPHON CASTLE: Yeah, I don't know, I kind of thought it was going to be a 50 regardless, whether or not I lost it. I don't know if they counted it as an attempt because of what I did. But you've got to live with it, I guess.

Q. What's the biggest lesson you learned from basketball, not counting tonight?

STEPHON CASTLE: Yeah, just take every experience in, soak it all in. Basketball gives you so many opportunities to network with people, get your name out there. Just use all these opportunities and really just soak everything in.

Q. Does this whet your appetite to come back?

STEPHON CASTLE: Yeah, I was happy with it. Like I said, I felt like my third dunk probably should have been a 50 and we could have went to a dunk-off. I feel like I don't know if that's what the crowd would have wanted, but overall, I was happy.

Q. Would you care to share the lessons you learned from Chris Paul since he's been on the team?

STEPHON CASTLE: Really just as a rookie, not get too down on myself when I make mistakes. Just always know that there's a learning curve behind everything. You're not going to be perfect. I always try to hold myself to a high standard, so he tries to keep me leveled out.

Q. You're more than halfway through your rookie season. How would you grade your rookie season thus far?

STEPHON CASTLE: I mean, I think I'm doing all right, honestly. I mean, I'm pretty humble. I'm probably one of the most humble guys that you'll probably talk to. I don't like to really gas myself up. But I think I'm doing all right.