The ball bounced Castle's way for a career-high 40 points in triple-double in Spurs' win over Mavs

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Stephon Castle attacked the rim knowing he needed just one more basket for the first 40-point game of his two-year NBA career.

The game came so easily to the San Antonio Spurs guard on Saturday night that it was fitting that a missed shot caromed directly to him for his final two points. Castle leaped for the rebound and, in one motion, wound up and threw down a monstrous right-handed dunk to punctuate his second career triple-double.

“You could tell he knew,” All-Star Victor Wembanyama said with a chuckle. “It was crazy.”

Castle had a career-high 40 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists to lead the Spurs to their fourth straight win, a 138-125 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.

"Not having to force it," Castle said of topping his previous high of 33 points. “I feel like it just came within the game.”

At 21 years old, Castle is the youngest player in NBA history with a 40-point triple-double and joins Wilt Chamberlain as the only player to do so while shooting 75% from the field.

Castle was behind the 3-point line when Devin Vassell took a 25-foot shot from the left side of the court midway through the fourth quarter. As the ball was in flight, Castle sprinted untouched through the lane and outjumped teammate Dylan Harper as the ball bounded off the right side of the rim. Castle tumbled out of bounds after the emphatic putback, screaming in celebration as he sat out of bounds.

“The ball came off perfect, so it felt good," Castle said. "But I mean, more importantly, it felt good to do that knowing we were going to get to win as well.”

San Antonio (36-16) won its ninth in 12 games to remain second in the Western Conference, 3 1/2 games behind Oklahoma City (40-13).

The NBA's past two Rookie of the Year winners, Wembanyama and Castle have led the Spurs to their best start since 2016 as they try to end a six-season playoff drought.

While Wembanyama is an MVP candidate and will make his first All-Star start on Feb. 15 in Los Angeles, Castle is evolving into a dynamic two-way player in his second season out of Connecticut.

The fourth pick in last year’s draft, Castle has improved his scoring (16.5), assists (6.9), rebounds (5.0) and steals (1.3) while matching last season's blocks (0.3). He's also generally tasked with defending the opponent's leading scorer, usually regardless of position.

“He’s already one of the best players in the league, so thank God there’s still room to improve,” Wembanyama said.

It would be hard to improve on Saturday's performance, which Castle completed with a plus-30 in net-point differential against Dallas.

“He was aggressive,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. “He had an incredible game.”

Castle made his first 10 shots before a 3-pointer from 28 feet bounced off the front of the rim three minutes into the second half. He finished 15 for 19 from the field, including 3 for 5 on 3-pointers.

Castle’s first triple-double was Nov. 12, 2025, against the Golden State Warriors when he had 23 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a 125-120 loss.

He joins Hall of Famer David Robinson as the only San Antonio players with a 40-point triple-double in the Spurs' 54-year history.

Robinson, who has season tickets, watched from his courtside seats.

“He’s a big part of this franchise,” Castle said. “What he did for this organization was great. So, just to hear my name even alongside of his is special.”

The only time Castle wasn't completely at ease on the court Saturday was postgame when he led the Spurs' new victory ritual of a drum countdown for the fans. It was Castle's first time pounding the drum.

“I kind of went based off the last couple I've seen,” Castle said. “So, I thought I did decent.”

Wembanyama was jokingly less enthused.

“He has some range to get better, for sure,” Wembanyama said.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Dallas Mavericks forward Marvin Bagley III (35) drives against San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

From left to right, San Antonio Spurs' Keldon Johnson, Stephon Castle, Victor Wembanyama and Devin Vassell laugh on the bench during the second half of their NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) scores over Dallas Mavericks forward Klay Thompson during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) goes to the basket against Dallas Mavericks guard Max Christie (00) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

Dallas Mavericks guard Max Christie (00) drives against San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

HELSINGBORG, Sweden (AP) — NATO allies and defense officials expressed bewilderment Friday at U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that he would send 5,000 U.S. troops to Poland just weeks after ordering the same number of forces pulled out of Europe.

The apparent change of mind came after weeks of statements from Trump and his administration about reducing — not increasing — the U.S. military footprint in Europe. Trump's initial order set off a flurry of action among military commanders and left allies already doubtful about America's commitment to Europe's security to ponder what forces they might have to backfill on NATO's eastern flank with Russia and Ukraine.

Earlier this month, the Trump administration said it was reducing levels in Europe by about 5,000 troops, and U.S. officials confirmed about 4,000 service members were no longer rotating into Poland from Germany. The dispatch to Germany of U.S. personnel trained to fire long-range missiles was also halted.

But in a post on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump said he would now send "an additional 5,000 Troops to Poland,” citing his strong ties with Polish President Karol Nawrocki, whom Trump endorsed in elections last year.

“It is confusing indeed, and not always easy to navigate,” Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard told reporters Friday at a meeting she was hosting of her NATO counterparts, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Ministers from the Netherlands and Norway were sanguine about Trump’s latest move, as was Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže, who said allies knew the U.S. troop “posture was being reconsidered, and now there is no change of posture. For now.”

U.S. defense officials also expressed confusion. “We just spent the better part of two weeks reacting to the first announcement. We don’t know what this means either,” said one of two officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military matters.

But Rubio said Washington’s allies understand that changes in the U.S. troop presence in Europe will come as the Trump administration reevaluates its force needs. “I think there’s a broad recognition that there are going to be eventually less U.S. troops in Europe than there has historically been for a variety of reasons,” he said.

The latest surprise came despite a U.S. pledge to coordinate troop deployments, including one from NATO’s top military officer, U.S. Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, on Wednesday.

Trump's initial announcement that he would withdraw troops came as he fumed over remarks by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said that the U.S. was being “humiliated” by the Iranian leadership and criticized what he called a lack of strategy in that war.

Trump told reporters that the U.S. would be cutting even more than 5,000 and also announced new tariffs on European cars. Germany is the continent’s biggest auto producer.

Rubio insisted that Trump’s decision “is not a punitive thing. It’s just something that’s ongoing.”

About 80,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Europe. The Pentagon is required to keep at least 76,000 troops and major equipment on the continent unless NATO allies are consulted and there is a determination that such a withdrawal is in U.S. interests.

The withdrawal of 5,000 troops might drop numbers below that limit.

But Trump's latest post suggests that troop numbers in Europe would not change. Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski welcomed the decision to send more forces to his country, saying it ensures that “the presence of American troops in Poland will be maintained more or less at previous levels.”

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte also welcomed the move. On Thursday, before Trump took to Truth Social again, Rutte had underlined that it was important for Europe to take care of its own security. “We have a process in place. This is normal business,” he told reporters.

At NATO headquarters in Brussels, meanwhile, U.S. officials briefed the allies on the Pentagon's aims for its commitments to the NATO Force Model, which involves contingency planning for Europe’s defense in the event of serious security concerns. It was widely expected that a further reduction of U.S. forces would be coming.

Asked whether any cuts were announced, Rutte said: “I’m afraid it’s much more complicated than that.” He said the procedure “is highly classified” and declined to give details.

Rubio played down concerns about a shift in U.S. force levels in Europe, saying: "Every country has to constantly reevaluate what their needs are, what their commitments are around the world, and how to properly structure that.”

Cook reported from Brussels. Associated Press writer Emma Burrows in London contributed.

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks with journalists during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, front second left, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, front left, speak with each other during a group photo at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, left, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte look at each other as they deliver a statement during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)

Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže speaks at the doorstep of the NATO foreign ministers' meeting at Sea U in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (Johan Nilsson/TT News Agency via AP)

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, left, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte deliver a statement during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte speaks to media at the NATO Foreign Ministers' meeting in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (Johan Nilsson/TT News Agency via AP)

Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives with his wife Jeanette at Malmo Airport, Friday, May 22, 2026, in Malmo-Sturup, Sweden, ahead of a NATO foreign ministers meeting. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool)

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, second from left, shakes hands with Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson, as he is greeted by King Carl Gustaf of Sweden, Queen Silvia of Sweden and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden Maria Malmer Stenergard, right, before a dinner at Sofiero Castle in Helsingborg, Sweden, Thursday May 21 2026. (Johan Nilsson/TT News Agency via AP)

Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard speaks to media at the NATO Foreign Ministers' meeting in Helsingborg, Sweden, Friday, May 22, 2026. (Johan Nilsson/TT News Agency via AP)