In a roundabout way, Stephon Castle complimented the Oklahoma City Thunder. At least, with their playoff crowd atmosphere. Alongside the San Antonio Spurs, both West powerhouses will enter the 2026-27 regular season as co-title favorites. Most expect a rematch of last year's epic seven-game duel.
In a GQ Magazine interview, Castle went out of his way to compliment the Thunder playoff crowd. And also subtly talk smack about the New York Knicks. The 21-year-old revealed there was a night-and-day difference between the two hostile environments. He believes the West rival showed out more than their 2025 NBA Finals foe.
"It was underwhelming in that first game. They made it seem like it was going to be way crazier in there," Castle said. "OKC was way louder
than MSG."
Ouch. That stings to hear if you're a Knicks fan. One popular working theory for why Castle feels that way involves ticket pricing. By the NBA Finals, the common fan is priced out of being at their home venue. Unless you're rich, a season ticket holder or a celebrity, most folks can't drop four-plus-figure payments for a leisurely activity such as an NBA game. Even if the Larry O'Brien trophy was at stake.
Especially at the historic Madison Square Garden. I mean, Ben Stiller became an extension of the NBA by the time the Spurs rolled into town. Celebrity row was filled with A-listers. Good luck trying to get in. That said, there is a little bit of a backhanded compliment vibe I felt from Castle's comments.
Sure, Castle might be right in a vacuum. The Thunder are known for having some of the best postseason crowds in NBA history. But his comments come off as a little salty. Especially since the Knicks beat the Spurs with relative ease in five games. That included a historic 29-point comeback in Game 4 at New York.
Regardless, hard to fault Castle for feeling himself. The Spurs are here and aren't going anywhere. They're in the infancy stage of a lengthy championship window. Sure, they were humbled in the 2025 NBA Finals. But Victor Wembanyama will surely sport some jewelry on his alien-like fingers by the end of his mythical career.
The Thunder are hoping to delay that inevitably by another year. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams are equally hungry for another NBA championship ring.
This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Stephon Castle voices backhanded compliment over OKC playoff crowd
