Follow Us on
Stephon Castle is finally closing in on a return for the San Antonio Spurs, with the second-year guard upgraded to questionable for the matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans after missing nine games with a left hip flexor strain. For a team that’s somehow stayed afloat without him and Victor Wembanyama, this is the kind of injury update that quietly changes the mood in the locker room.
Stephon Castle Injury Update
Stephon Castle is officially listed as questionable with a left hip flexor strain, but all signs point to him being ready to suit up against the Pelicans. He’s been out since November 16, when he left a game against Sacramento and never returned for the second half, with later tests confirming the hip flexor issue.
Since then, every injury report had him marked as “out”, until now, which is always a good sign with the Spurs’ generally cautious medical approach. The big turning point came when Castle was a full participant in practice over the weekend and then traveled with the team, something you don’t usually see if a guy is still far away from returning.
Multiple reports out of San Antonio say he moved well in workouts, and the tone from beat writers has shifted from “wait and see” to “yeah, he’s probably playing.” Before the injury, Castle was putting up 17.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game, looking every bit like a reigning Rookie of the Year who’s taken another step.
When a player with that kind of on-ball usage suddenly disappears, you usually see the offense wobble, but the Spurs have patched it together with ball-sharing and a “next man up” mentality. Still, there’s a difference between surviving and actually having your lead guard back.
When Will He Return?
Stephon Castle is expected to return on Monday night against the New Orleans Pelicans, barring any late setback in warmups. Officially he’s still “questionable,” but both national and local reports describe his return as likely, and some have flat out said the team anticipates he’ll play. In other words: this feels less like a coin flip and more like a soft green light.
There are a few layers to why the timing matters:
- Castle has already missed nine straight games with the hip flexor strain, roughly lining up with the 1–2 week reevaluation window that was initially reported when the MRI results came out.
- He’s returning to a team that went 7–3 over its last 10 and sits 15–7, fifth in the Western Conference, which is wild considering both Castle and Wembanyama have been out.
- His re-entry probably means a reshuffle of touches for guys like Julian Champagnie and David Jones, who were filling minutes in his absence.
It’s also worth noting that while Castle is trending toward playing, Victor Wembanyama and Jordan McLaughlin are still listed as out, even though they’ve also been back practicing.
Wemby is nearing a return from a calf strain but is not expected to face the Pelicans and could even miss the upcoming NBA Cup quarterfinal against the Lakers, depending on how conservative the staff wants to be.
So Castle may end up being the first big piece to rejoin what should eventually be a scary full-strength core. From a fan point of view, this is that awkward but exciting phase where you’re refreshing injury reports more than the actual box score.
Everyone wants to see the version of this team where Castle, Wembanyama, Dylan Harper, and the rest actually share the floor, because ridiculously, they still haven’t all played together yet.
What His Return Means for the Spurs
Castle coming back doesn’t just give the Spurs another body, it gives them back their primary playmaker and tempo setter, which matters a lot for a young team still figuring out its late-game identity.
With him on the floor, the offense tends to look more organized, less “my turn, your turn,” and the ball finds better shots instead of rushed pull-ups.
Given that he was averaging strong all-around numbers and even flirting with triple-doubles in stretches, his return should help:
- Take pressure off secondary handlers.
- Set up easier looks for shooters and bigs.
- Stabilize the half-court offense against physical defenses like New Orleans.
The Spurs have proven they can survive short-handed; now comes the fun part, seeing what they look like when one of their key engines is back.
If Castle looks anywhere close to his pre-injury form, this could be the moment San Antonio shifts from “nice surprise” to “legit problem” in the West.
If you want, the next step can be a more tactical breakdown of how his pick-and-roll and drive-and-kick game shapes the Spurs’ offense, especially once Wembanyama is back on the floor with him.
Is Stephon Castle playing tonight?
Stephon Castle is officially listed as questionable for tonight’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans, but multiple reports say he is expected to play.
The Spurs upgraded him from “out” to “questionable” after he went through full practices and traveled with the team, which is usually the last step before a return to the floor.
He’s been sidelined for the last nine games with a left hip flexor strain, but local and national reports have described tonight’s matchup as the likely comeback date, saying the Spurs “expect him to return” barring any late setback in warmups.
So while the official injury report stops at “questionable,” fans should be prepared, in a good way, to finally see Castle back in the rotation tonight.
Disclaimer: The information above is based on current reports, team updates, and media speculation at the time of writing. Player availability, injury statuses, and team decisions may change closer to game time. This content is intended for informational and editorial purposes only and should not be taken as official confirmation from the San Antonio Spurs or the NBA. For the most accurate updates, refer to official team announcements and league injury reports.
