It’s been a great NBA season for the star player with this award being a part of his accolades. San Antonio Spurs’ Stephon Castle has been awarded the ‘Rookie of the Year’ accolade amongst other players. The idea of the rookie class, Castle is in, is one that suggests that there wasn’t really competition with the NBA award. The “down rookie class” is unfair to Stephon Castle and the greatness of the achievement he has. With the player’s stats this season, this award is only the beginning.
Castle’s Rookie of the Year Win
Named Rookie of the Year for the 2024-25 NBA season, Stephon Castle makes the Spurs proud with the previous winner of the award being another Castle player, Victor Wembanyana. Going head-to-head for the award with Castle was Hawks’ Zaccharie Risacher and the Grizzlies’ Jaylen Wells. The points tallied to Castle winning 482 points, Zaccharie Risacher with 245 and third on the list is Jaylen Wells at 123 points. Positioned forth is Alex Sarr then finally Zach Eddy.
Castle’s Basketball Journey & Impact on the Spurs
Drafted fourth overall in the 2024-25 NBA Draft, Stephon Castle was recognized for the NCAA championship win at UConn as a freshman. His NBA journey began on the bench until the player earned a starting role due to De’Aaron Fox’s injury. Playing his all on the courts, Castle averaged 14.7 points, 4.1 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 0.9 steals per game shooting from 42.8 percentage from the field and 28.5 percentage from 3-point distance.
His journey is filled with great players surrounding him at San Antonio Spurs, such as the veteran Chris Paul. The San Antonio have done a great job drafting Castle and more opportunities to draft other star player can still be available. While the stats of the player are outstanding and his journey as a rookie one of recognition, his competition seemed to be diluted, with Alex Sarr and Risacher, who were allegedly drafted as projects struggling on the court.
The Down Rookie Class & Future Outlook
French basketball player, Zaccharie Risacher, part of the down rookie class, is a 6ft8 forward, averaging 12.6 points and 3.6 rebounds per game while shooting 45.8% from the field and 35.5% from 3-point distance. With great effort in his passing ability and vision of the court, the player is categorized as a “down rookie class”.
Regardless of the player being outstanding in manipulating defences and rebounds, analysts say that he falls short in his physical attribute; speed and strength and defensive skills. Being drafted through a lottery pick, there are doubts placed on the rookie and the main way to overlook this will be his performance against greater competition.
Alex Sarr, drafted by the Washington Wizards in 2024 stands at 7ft1 as the centre and power forward of the team. While having great potential such as being an elite shot blocker and defensive impacts ranking his block per games third, Sarr is criticised for his shooting skills and efficiency. The player averages 13 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 39.4% from the field and 30.8% on 5.1 3-point attempts per game.
While the limitations of the rookies were mentioned and analysed, the idea of the award winner, Stephon Castle, having no competition is unfair and debunks the effort the winner put into receiving the accolade and it minimizes the strengths that Alex Sarr and Zaccharie Risacher have. The 2024-25 NBA Rookie of the Year has been awarded and with the drafts soon on the NBA calendar, much focus will be on the San Antonio Spurs to see who will join them. Who will be the outstanding rookie collecting the award next season?
