Spurs Star Stephon Castle Names His NBA GOATs

The rising guard shares his picks for the best player, defender, coach, and team of all time

Apr. 12, 2026 at 4:38am

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A cubist-style painting featuring fragmented geometric shapes and planes in shades of blue, red, and yellow, conceptually representing the diverse talents and accomplishments of basketball's greatest players and coaches.Stephon Castle's selections for the NBA's all-time greats reflect the enduring legacies of the league's iconic players and coaches.San Antonio Today

In a rapid-fire interview, San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle named his selections for the greatest NBA player (Michael Jordan), WNBA player (A'ja Wilson), defender (Kawhi Leonard), coach (Gregg Popovich), and team (Kevin Durant-led Warriors) of all time. Castle, who was recently featured on the cover of SLAM Magazine, is in his second season with the Spurs and has emerged as a key part of their success this year.

Why it matters

Castle's picks provide insight into how one of the league's rising young stars views the all-time greats of the game. His selections, while not entirely surprising, offer a window into the perspective of the next generation of NBA talent. The choices also highlight the enduring legacies of icons like Jordan, Leonard, and Popovich, as well as the continued dominance of superteams like the Durant-era Warriors.

The details

In the interview, Castle named Michael Jordan as the best NBA player of all time, citing his six titles, six Finals MVPs, five regular season MVPs, and 10 scoring titles. For the WNBA, he picked Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson, who has won three championships, two Finals MVPs, four regular season MVPs, three Defensive Player of the Year awards, and two scoring titles. Castle selected the Kevin Durant-led Golden State Warriors as the best team ever, noting their three Finals appearances and one championship from 2016-2019, as well as their record-setting 16-1 postseason run. For best defender, he chose Kawhi Leonard, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and seven-time All-Defensive team selection. Finally, Castle named his own coach, the legendary Gregg Popovich, as the greatest of all time. Popovich won five titles with the Spurs and was a three-time Coach of the Year before retiring in 2025 after a storied 26-year career.

  • Castle was recently announced as the latest cover athlete for SLAM Magazine.
  • Popovich suffered a stroke five games into the 2024-25 season and had to step away from the team, then stepped down in May 2025.

The players

Stephon Castle

A rising second-year guard for the San Antonio Spurs who was recently featured on the cover of SLAM Magazine.

Michael Jordan

Widely considered one of the greatest NBA players of all time, with six championships, six Finals MVPs, five regular season MVPs, and 10 scoring titles.

A'ja Wilson

A superstar for the Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA, with three titles, two Finals MVPs, four regular season MVPs, three Defensive Player of the Year awards, and two scoring titles.

Kawhi Leonard

A two-time Defensive Player of the Year and seven-time All-Defensive team selection, known as one of the best defenders in NBA history.

Gregg Popovich

The legendary head coach of the San Antonio Spurs, who won five championships and was named Coach of the Year three times before retiring in 2025.

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What they’re saying

“Michael Jordan.”

— Stephon Castle, Spurs Guard

“I'll say, A'ja Wilson.”

— Stephon Castle, Spurs Guard

“Warriors with [Kevin Durant].”

— Stephon Castle, Spurs Guard

“Kawhi [Leonard].”

— Stephon Castle, Spurs Guard

“[Gregg Popovich].”

— Stephon Castle, Spurs Guard

What’s next

The Spurs are looking to win their first NBA championship since Gregg Popovich's retirement, and Stephon Castle will be a key part of their push for the title this season.

The takeaway

Stephon Castle's selections for the NBA's all-time greats provide a glimpse into how the next generation of stars views the league's legends. His picks highlight the enduring legacies of icons like Michael Jordan, Kawhi Leonard, and Gregg Popovich, as well as the continued dominance of superteam rosters like the Durant-era Warriors.