The NBA Rookie of the Year has just been announced, and he couldn’t be more deserving of the honor. In the latest NBA awards announcement, Stephon Castle was revealed as the ROTY, making the San Antonio Spurs the first team to have back-to-back winners since the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2014-15 (Andrew Wiggins) and 2015-16 (Karl-Anthony Towns).
As usual, a panel of 100 media voters determined the winner. The ballot of eight names included Stephon Castle, Zaccharie Risacher, Jalen Wells, Alex Sarr, Zach Edey, Kel’el Ware, Matas Buzelis, and Jared McCain. The results were a blowout for Castle, who took first place with 482 points (92 first-place votes). Risacher was second with 245 points, and Jaylen Wells was third with 123 points.
Castle, 20, was drafted fourth overall in the 2024 draft. Coming out of UConn, Castle was praised for his defensive versatility and his skills as a playmaker. At 6’6″ and 215 pounds, Castle is oversized for the position, which allows him to be an effective two-way guard on the perimeter and on the inside, where he’s known to be a strong finisher.
After Victor Wembanyama made his debut last season, nobody thought that Castle would outshine everyone in his class, including Zaccharie Risacher, Alex Sarr, and Reed Sheppard. After Wembanyama went down in February, however, Castle became the biggest story on the team, and his play helped the Spurs stay competitive down the stretch.
In 81 games this season, Castle averaged 14.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game on 42.8% shooting. Those are modest numbers for a Rookie of the Year winner, but he still ranked among the top of his class in points (second), assists (fourth), and steals (seventh).
With another four years and $10.3 million on his contract, Stephon Castle will play a major role in the future of the Spurs, and he may be one player who ends up as a long-term teammate of Victor Wembanyama.
After going 34-48 in the regular season, the Spurs still have a long way to go on the road to contention, but there is hope for their future. With the return of Wembanyama back into the fold, they are bound to improve and take another step forward in the West.
After suffering a stroke months ago, genius head coach Gregg Popovich is in recovery, and there’s a chance he’ll be ready to give the Spurs his full attention next season.
Ultimately, the key to San Antonio’s success in the NBA is Stephon Castle’s ascension. Victor needs a co-star to keep the team afloat, and if Castle can fill that role, they will be in a good position to make a run in the West.
For now, the Spurs are taking it one game at a time, and they will not rush the process of building a championship team. Now that they have two Rookie of the Year winners, the Spurs have a core they can build around just like they did with Tim Duncan and Tony Parker back in the day.
