San Antonio Guard Stephon Castle Named NBA Rookie of the Year
San Antonio guard Stephon Castle was named NBA Rookie of the Year on Tuesday, becoming the second consecutive Spurs player to win the award after Victor Wembanyama. Castle received 482 total points, overwhelming Atlanta Hawks star Zaccharie Risacher, who earned 245 points, and Memphis Grizzlies rookie Jaylen Wells, who finished in third place.
Castle, who was the No. 4 pick in the 2024 draft, joined the Spurs after a standout season at UConn where he helped lead the Huskies to a second straight NCAA championship as a freshman.
Starting his rookie season coming off the bench, Castle eventually earned a full-time role in the backcourt playing alongside veteran Chris Paul after De’Aaron Fox’s season-ending injury. In 81 games, including 47 starts, Castle averaged 14.7 points, 4.1 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and 0.9 steals per game.
Risacher and Sarr, the No. 1 and No. 2 overall picks in the draft, were seen as projects, with Risacher averaging 12.6 points and 3.6 rebounds per game, and Sarr showing flashes of potential as the season progressed. Reed Sheppard, the No. 3 overall pick, struggled to find playing time with the Rockets.
Despite facing challenges with efficiency, Castle had a consistent and productive rookie campaign, excelling on both ends of the floor. Alongside Wembanyama and Fox, Castle is expected to be a key part of San Antonio’s future. With another lottery pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, the Spurs have the opportunity to further strengthen their promising core.
Source: NBA.com