The NBA Finals are almost here, and one San Antonio Spurs star just dropped a bombshell admission that has fans buzzing. With Game 1 against the New York Knicks set for Wednesday night, rookie guard Stephon Castle confessed that he's not above a little gamesmanship—specifically, flopping.
During a media session ahead of the championship series, Castle was asked if the Spurs were leaving any tricks on the table by not embellishing contact. His answer was refreshingly honest—and maybe a little concerning for the league office.
“I sell calls too sometimes. I mean, I can’t lie,” Castle said, per Bleacher Report. “But it’s really just a feel thing, especially in the playoffs. If it’s too egregious, the refs aren’t going to bail you out. They’re going to make the better team win.”
The admission comes on the heels of a heated Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, where Castle had previously complained about inconsistent officiating. He claimed the Thunder were allowed to play overly physical defense while the Spurs didn’t get the same leeway on the other end.
“Trying to play through it is tough,” Castle said after eliminating the Thunder. “I just think the way they guard, how physical they are, we don’t get that same luxury to be able to play as physical on the other end at times.”
Now, with the Knicks standing in their way of a title, Castle’s comments have added a new layer of intrigue. Fans will be watching closely to see if the rookie tries to draw fouls in the Finals—and whether the officials will bite. The Spurs are favored to win the series, but New York has embraced the underdog role, with star Jalen Brunson saying, “We’ve been doubted a lot. There’s been a lot of noise from the outside… but we’ve always gone back to the gym and worked on our game.”
Castle, meanwhile, insists that selling calls isn't a strategy, just a reaction to how the game is being called. “I don’t really think it’s about selling calls or not trying to sell calls to make yourself look a certain type of way,” he said. “We talk to the refs a lot, especially me in particular, but most of the times they’re right. So just having a short-term memory. Whether you fall down or not, if you get the call or you don’t get the call, it’s not really something you can change.”
As the Finals tip off, all eyes will be on Castle—and whether his honesty comes back to haunt him. For more on the series, check out the latest banter between Texas and New York as the two cities gear up for a showdown. And don't miss Victor Wembanyama's unusual pre-game ritual that has teammates both amused and spooked.
