Being a rookie in the NBA comes with its fair share of challenges—and traditions. For San Antonio Spurs rookie Stephon Castle, one of those traditions came in the form of a hilarious prank.
Following the Spurs’ 126-116 victory over the Dallas Mavericks, Castle discovered that his car had been the target of some good-natured hazing.
In a video shared by Spurs guard Devin Vassell on Instagram, Castle was led to the parking lot, only to find his white Toyota Supra missing all four wheels. The car sat humorously low to the ground, and Castle’s reaction—equal parts disbelief and amusement—was captured as his teammates erupted in laughter.
Spurs took the wheels off Stephon Castle’s car 😭😅
(via devin_vassell/IG) pic.twitter.com/VT2HT2QFP6
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 13, 2025
Spurs star De’Aaron Fox, who joined the team earlier this season, commented on the prank, saying,
“Steph doesn’t do anything. He doesn’t have any rookie duties, which is crazy to me. So, yeah, he deserved it.”
Another teammate, Jeremy Sochan, hinted that Sandro Mamukelashvili might have been the mastermind behind the prank.
Despite the antics, Castle has been making a strong case for himself on the court. Selected fourth overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, he is currently a frontrunner for Rookie of the Year, averaging 13.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. His impressive performances have been a bright spot for the Spurs, who have had their fair share of struggles as of late, since the season ending illness of Victor Wembanyama.
The prank, while harmless, is part of a long-standing NBA tradition of rookie hazing, which often includes tasks like carrying teammates’ bags or singing in front of the team.
