Everyone thought they knew what was going to happen at the 2025 NBA Slam Dunk Contest in San Francisco. Mac McClung was the heavy favorite. A human pogo stick. The guy who basically saved All-Star Saturday Night from becoming a total snoozefest. But then Stephon Castle stepped onto the floor at Chase Center and everything shifted.
Honestly, the Stephon Castle dunk contest narrative started way before he even touched the rim. People were skeptical. You had critics on Reddit saying a 6-foot-6 rookie from UConn wouldn't have the "creative bag" to compete with professional dunkers. They were wrong. Dead wrong.
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The Night Castle Almost Dethroned the King
Castle wasn't just there to participate. He was there to win. He became the first San Antonio Spurs player in 37 years to participate in the event—the last one being Greg "Cadillac" Anderson back in '88. Think about that for a second. That's a lot of pressure for a 20-year-old who is usually tasked with being the "serious" floor general for Gregg Popovich.
His first dunk of the night was a statement. He came down the right side and launched into a 360 windmill that looked so smooth it almost felt effortless. The judges gave him a 47.4. It was a solid start, but the energy in the building really changed during the second round.
Round Two: The Hangtime is Real
For his second act, Castle went with a reverse windmill off the glass. This is where you really saw the "sneaky hops" people talk about. He got his head nearly level with the rim.
The score? A 47.8.
A lot of fans felt he was being low-balled. "Criminal," as some Spurs fans posted on X (formerly Twitter) in real-time. But it was enough to get him into the finals against McClung. This was the heavyweight matchup nobody expected but everyone suddenly needed.
Breaking Down the Finals: A 49.6 That Felt Like a 50
In the final round, things got weird. Good weird. Castle decided to go for a high-risk, high-reward maneuver: an under-the-basket, through-the-legs slam. He missed a couple of times. The tension was thick. You could see the sweat. You could see the focus.
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On the third try, he nailed it. The timing was perfect. The crowd erupted. Even with the misses, the judges handed him a 49.6.
The Final Showstopper
Castle didn't let up. For his last dunk, he pulled off a 180 behind-the-back switch from his right hand to his left. A perfect 50. Total silence in the arena for a split second before the place blew up. He forced McClung to be perfect. And McClung was—jumping over 6-foot-11 Evan Mobley to seal his third straight title.
But the result didn't matter as much as the impact. Stephon Castle proved he’s more than just a defensive stopper or a high-IQ playmaker. He’s an elite athlete who can hold his own on the biggest stage of the weekend.
Why the Stephon Castle Dunk Contest Run Matters for the Spurs
The Spurs haven't exactly been known as "Lob City" over the last decade. They play "the right way." They pass. they move. But having a guy like Castle—and obviously Victor Wembanyama—means the Spurs are suddenly fun.
- Brand Growth: Castle's jersey sales spiked after All-Star weekend.
- Confidence: He returned to the regular season playing with a different level of aggression.
- Draft Validation: It silenced anyone who thought the Spurs reached for him at #4.
Basically, Castle showed that the "Spurs Way" can include a little bit of flair. He didn't just show up; he pushed the greatest dunker of this generation to the absolute brink.
Looking Ahead: Will He Be Back for 2026?
There are already rumors floating around about the 2026 contest. Some reports suggest the NBA might change the format to a 1-on-1 "King of the Court" style, while others say stars like Ja Morant and Anthony Edwards are being recruited to bring the dunk contest back to its 90s glory days.
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If the Stephon Castle dunk contest era is a one-and-done, he left us with some of the best highlights in Spurs history. If he comes back? He knows exactly what it takes to get those perfect 50s now.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
- Watch the tape: If you only saw the box score, you missed the body control. Go back and look at the "switch" dunk in the finals. It’s technical mastery.
- Track the development: Watch how Castle uses that same verticality in transition during the second half of the season. He's starting to hunt for posters.
- Ignore the "boring" label: The San Antonio Spurs are officially highlight-reel material again.
Don't sleep on the "quiet" guys. Sometimes they're the ones who make the most noise when the lights are brightest. Castle didn't leave San Francisco with the trophy, but he left with a lot more respect than he had when he arrived.
Next Steps to Follow Stephon Castle:
To get the most out of Castle's breakout season, you should track his "Dunks per 36 minutes" stats on Basketball-Reference to see how his rim pressure evolves. Additionally, keep an eye on the Spurs' official YouTube channel for the "All-Access" behind-the-scenes footage from All-Star weekend to see his preparation process for the 180 behind-the-back slam.