6-foot-11 center Colin Castleton signed a two-way contract that landed him with the Los Angeles Lakers immediately after the 2023 NBA Draft, but that's not where the buck stops for the former Florida standout if he has anything to say about it.
After dazzling spectators with a skilled display of scoring, passing and low-post defense in the 2023 NBA Summer League, Castleton is a darkhorse candidate for one the Lakers' two remaining roster spots. With that possibility, the 23-year-old Castleton would discuss his equally mindset as he heads into training camp.
“I'll just go in there with the right approach, wanting to learn from the best players in the world,” Castleton tells Lakers Nation's Ron Gutterman. “I'm going to soak up all the information they give me. But I feel like I'm definitely ready to play at this level so we'll just see how everything falls out, but I'm definitely excited for training camp.”
“My competitive spirit is something that drives me, so obviously I feel like I could see myself in that role at some point,” Castleton adds. “But it's not something I worry about or think about. I just let the process happen.”
Castleton — a two-time All-SEC selection (2022, 2023) and a 2023 SEC All-Defensive Team selection — averaged 13.7 points (on 56.3 percent shooting from the field), 9.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.1 blocks per game in the 2023 NBA Summer League.
With numbers like that, it would be easy for him to get ahead of himself. Fortunately, Castleton is as level-headed as he is ambitious.
“I was focused on killing Summer League, and I feel like I did a good job there,” says Castleton. “Now I can focus on getting ready for training camp and put myself in the right mindset so I can have an opportunity later in the year. That's my mindset.”
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