San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle has been named the NBA's 2024-25 Rookie of the Year, the league announced Tuesday.
Castle becomes the second consecutive Spurs player to win the award, making it back-to-back winners for the franchise.
He joins Victor Wembanyama, who won the trophy the previous year, and Hall of Fame centers David Robinson and Tim Duncan as the only players in Spurs history to receive the honor. Unlike his predecessors, Castle was not the No. 1 overall selection, entering the league as the No. 4 pick in the 2024 draft.
Castle received 92 of the first-place votes. Atlanta Hawks guard Zaccharie Risacher earned five first-place votes, and the Memphis Grizzlies' Jaylen Wells received three.
For the season, Stephon Castle averaged 14.7 points, 4.1 assists, and 3.7 rebounds. He also contributed 0.9 steals per contest while shooting 42.8% from the field and 28.5% from 3-point distance.
He began the season coming off the bench but eventually moved into the starting lineup, finishing the year playing alongside veteran Chris Paul in the backcourt following De'Aaron Fox's injury.
Castle demonstrated effectiveness on both ends of the floor throughout his rookie campaign. His defensive effort was notable, and he was frequently tasked with guarding opposing team's top perimeter weapons.
His selection comes from a draft class that saw several high picks drafted as developmental projects. Risacher, the No. 1 pick, and Alex Sarr, the No. 2 pick, showed flashes but lacked consistency for much of the season. Reed Sheppard, selected No. 3 overall, struggled to find playing time in Houston.
Castle's consistent production positioned him as the frontrunner after early season favorite Jared McCain suffered a season-ending injury in December. Castle also helped lead UConn to a second straight NCAA championship as a freshman before entering the draft.
The Spurs organization now has consecutive Rookie of the Year winners in Victor Wembanyama and Castle. The team holds two lottery picks in the upcoming draft, one being their own and the other acquired in the Dejounte Murray trade, providing opportunities to add more young talent around their developing core.
