Spurs’ Stephon Castle knows who the better team was in NBA Finals Game 1

As he does on the court, Victor Wembanyama may have set the tone for the San Antonio Spurs following a loss to the New York Knicks in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. After Wemby repeatedly said that he wasn’t overly worried about losing the opener in the ultimate round of the playoffs, Stephon Castle followed suit.

ClutchPoints asked the Spurs guard if, after breaking down film, he agreed that his team not need be overly concerned because of the specifics of the 105-95 result.

“I think Vic said it best. I don’t think we have anything to be too worried about. Obviously, we feel like we’re the better team. We didn’t play well, still had a chance to win, so…”

Castle paused before he continued to CP.

“If we take one thing from that, just going back to being ourselves, focusing on the right things.”

For the fourth time this postseason, the Spurs face a playoff deficit. The Minnesota Timberwolves won the opener of the second round in San Antonio. The Oklahoma City Thunder took 2-1 and 3-2 series leads on the now Western Conference champions.

“We’ve been down in a series before,” Castle told ClutchPoints. “I think Coach Mitch (Johnson) said it best. Really all playoffs, it’s taken us more than a half to get settled into the game. Yeah, just trying to be ourselves.”

ClutchPoints also asked Castle about another comment Wemby made. In the off-day between Games 1 and 2, the Spurs generational talent said the team didn’t have the best approach to their Finals debut.

“Well, I mean, if I had to think of one thing, most of our first time being in the Finals,” Castle responded. “Obviously, a big moment for a lot of us. Obviously, we’re overly excited to get out there and play. That could definitely be a part of it.”

"Obviously, we feel like we're the better team. We didn't play well, still had a chance to win. If we take one thing from that: going back to being ourselves and focusing on the right things…
Our first time in the Finals"
-talked w/Steph Castle ahead of #NBAFinals Game 2#Spurs pic.twitter.com/RYyq5OH7Vn

— Hector Ledesma (@HectorLedesmaTV) June 4, 2026

Stephon Castle admits Spurs may have relied on individual talent in loss

For all of their success through the years, the Spurs franchise has long been known for ball movement. They totaled just 16 assists in the setback to the Knicks. Mitch Jonson revealed that he thought his players too often focused on isolation plays as they relied on individual talent.

“It could have been that,” Castle answered when posed with that possibility. “I think, for the most part, we didn’t make the extra pass as much as we usually do. We settled a lot more than we usually do. I think coach preaches a lot: try and find better each possession, try and find the best shot. I think we got satisfied with, probably, a decent look, knowing that we can make those kind of shots. I think we got satisfied with that a lot more than we usually do throughout the year. I think it cost us.”

All that taken into consideration, the Spurs had a one-point lead in the closing minutes of Game 1. It’s a reality not lost on Castle.

“Even playing like that, not playing the way we wanted to, we still had a chance to win.”

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