Spurs' Stephon Castle named 2024-25 NBA Rookie of the Year
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle on Tuesday was named the 2024-25 NBA Rookie of the Year, becoming the fourth player in franchise history to win the award.
Castle secured 92 out of 100 first-place votes from a global panel of sportswriters and broadcasters, topping Atlanta Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher (5) and Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaylen Wells (3). He finished with 482 total points in the final voting.
Advertisement
The fourth pick joins David Robinson (1990), Tim Duncan (1998) and Victor Wembanyama (2024) as previous winners from the Spurs. They are the first team to have back-to-back winners since the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2014-15 (Andrew Wiggins) and 2015-16 (Karl-Anthony Towns).
Castle led all first-year players in scoring, averaging 14.7 points, 4.1 assists and 3.7 rebounds on 42.8% shooting from the field in 81 games. He also paced the rookie class in field goals (423) and total steals (74) while making over 100 more free throws (249) than any other first-year player.
The Rising Stars Game MVP was the only rookie with at least 1,000 points this season (1,190) and is one of three in franchise history to also have 250 assists. He was one of four first-year players with multiple 30-point performances.
Advertisement
Castle earned Western Conference Rookie of the Month honors in January and March, joining Robinson, Duncan and Wembanyama as Spurs players to win multiple times. He was the first Spurs rookie since Duncan to rank in the top two on the team in both points and assists.
This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: NBA: Spurs guard Stephon Castle named 2024-25 Rookie of the Year
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Victor Wembanyama's Big Change in Physical Appearance is Turning Heads
Victor Wembanyama's Big Change in Physical Appearance is Turning Heads originally appeared on Athlon Sports. San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama's sophomore campaign was cut short due to a health scare surrounding a blood clot in his right shoulder. Despite playing in only 46 games during the 2024-25 season, the French native led the NBA in blocks (176). Advertisement In late March, Wembanyama underwent surgery to address the deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The Spurs expect the former No. 1 overall pick to make a full recovery and be ready for training camp ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season. In the meantime, Wembanyama has found some extracurricular activities to engage in off the court. Pictures of the Frenchman visiting the Shaolin Temple in Zhengzhou, China, have recently surfaced. He appears bald and is dressed in traditional monk's clothing. Fans around the world were shocked to see the Spurs center's new look, taking to social media to comment. "He shaved his head? Bro looks futuristic here lol - Avatar vibes," said a fan. Advertisement "Wemby is really special! He is making a spiritual transcendence! trust him!" another said. One fan wrote, "Wemby is a great lead for a movie with Jackie Chan." Another wrote, "Wemby gonna be an air bender soon. He gonna fly like Mike and be the first 3pt dunker." "Victor Wembanyama is truly one of a kind!" wrote another. "I fear for the league," said another fan. San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama reacts from the Wachter-Imagn Images The 7-foot-3 center averaged 24.3 points, 11 rebounds and 3.7 assists in his second season with San Antonio. Sports viewers across the league are eager to see Wembanyama back on the hardwood, but for now, the star is spending time away from the game with some of the world's most powerful spiritual leaders. Advertisement Related: Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton Doubles Down on Favorite NBA Team Growing Up This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
2025 NBA Draft Prospect Names San Antonio Spurs as 'Good Spot'
2025 NBA Draft Prospect Names San Antonio Spurs as 'Good Spot' originally appeared on Athlon Sports. With two picks in the 2025 NBA Draft, the San Antonio Spurs will have their pick of the litter in the massive talent pool. Advertisement They own their own pick and are owed one from the Atlanta Hawks without any protections, and will pick second, 14th, and 38th overall. The Spurs have already seen one top prospect announce that San Antonio is his preferred landing spot, and in an exclusive interview with Inside the Spurs, another talented player said he wants to play with Victor Wembanyama. Dink Pate and Victor WembanyamaBy Tony Fisher Dink Pate Wants to Link Up With Wemby, Stephon Castle Guard Dink Pate is one of the more exciting prospects in the draft. At 6-8, he is oversized for a point guard and uses his size to find the open man and force his way to the basket. He took an unconventional route to the draft process, signing with the now-defunct G League Ignite when he was just 17 years old. Now in his second G League season, he averaged 10.1 points and 1.9 assists in 34 games with the Mexico City Capitanes. Advertisement While his numbers don't reflect it yet, he prides himself on his ability to be a floor general and lift up his teammates. His on-ball defense, like with most young guards, could use some work, but he isn't worried about that, especially if he ends up in his ideal landing spot. "I think San Antonio would be a good spot for me. To learn from CP3, because he's one of the greatest, in my opinion. I know Steph Castle. And Wemby, just put me with another all-time general, which is you got a 6'8 guard with another 7-foot-whatever, I think that'll make a great program." -Dink Pate Like most point guards, Pate idolizes and respects what Chris Paul has accomplished, and would prefer the Spurs re-sign him for another season if they draft him. Pate has made it clear that he wants to be a day-one starter, but after spending two seasons in the G League, he is projected to be a second-round pick and could very easily spend a third season in the minor leagues. If Paul is still in town, the youngster would defer to the elder, more accomplished player. If Paul is playing elsewhere, Pate would happily throw his hat in the ring to be the Spurs' starting point guard next to Stephon Castle in the backcourt. "Whatever it is, man, I'm ready to step to the occasion and I'm ready to show my worth." Advertisement Pate, right now, is generally considered to be a second-round pick, and the Spurs could scoop him up with the 38th pick, or could wait and see if he goes undrafted. He is participating in the third season of The Break, presented by The General, a docuseries narrated by Shaquille O'Neal that follows up-and-coming players and G League stars. He hopes that the documentary will help tell his personal story and raise his draft stock, and he's made it clear where he believes he can be selected. "The Break, presented by The General has definitely been helping me and it's been pushing my status high and getting my name out there. I see a lot of comments of like, 'Oh, I don't know who this is, but he good.' They're going to find out sooner or later on this." Pate admits that he might not be in the "numero uno" pick conversation, and he will have a lot to prove in the Summer League. Advertisement Pate has a very high ceiling, although, like most later picks, it's unclear if he will be able to live up to the potential. Check out the Inside the Spurs homepage for more news, analysis, and must-read articles. Related: Former Spurs Player Delivers Definitive Verdict on 2013 NBA Finals Loss Related: Jeremy Sochan Gets Brutally Honest About Role With San Antonio Spurs This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
The San Antonio Spurs will be ready to hit the ground running next season.
The San Antonio Spurs will be ready to hit the ground running next season. originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The San Antonio Spurs, on the back of Victor Wembanyama, were hoping to make the play-in tournament this season before a deep vein thrombosis injury shut down their superstar. Advertisement However, the Spurs added De'Aaron Fox, have the second overall pick, and plenty of trade fodder to make a massive move this offseason, and they improved internally down the stretch to end the season. With two All-Stars on the roster, the Spurs are expected to make the playoffs in the upcoming season, regardless of the offseason moves they make, and they are already in the gym putting in some work. "We're getting better," said Blake Wesley. "We're in here for two and a half hours every day, so we're getting better. Draft's coming up. Got number two pick, 14 pick, 36 pick, or something like that. So we're just riding it out." Of course, not everyone is in town. Wemby was seen vacationing in Costa Rica and China, and Jeremy Sochan was in the Philippines for an international basketball event. However, players without prior commitments, like FIBA play, seem to be staying in San Antonio. Advertisement Wesley has long been included in trade speculation, although with Chris Paul on the way out, he could be a key depth piece in the backcourt. After averaging only three points and 1.9 assists per game through the All-Star Break, he got more run of things in the final stretch of the season, increasing his averages to 4.6 points and 2.1 assists while being a defensive hound. He will slot into the lineup behind Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper (assuming the Spurs keep the second pick), and De'Aaron Fox, but should get substantial play off the bench if he spends his fourth NBA season with the Spurs. Check out the Inside the Spurs home page for more news, analysis, and must-read articles. Advertisement Related: Chris Paul Talks Retirement and Hints at Next Team He Could Play For Related: San Antonio Spurs Guard Included in Surprise Olympic Announcement This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
