Stephon Castle generated a lot of attention from the NBA world for his confident statement on his chances to win the ROTY (Rookie of the Year) award. Although there is no harm in confidence and certainly nothing wrong with believing in one’s own growth and development, how much truth is in his statements?
Is Stephon Castle the Undisputed ROTY Frontrunner?
Last year’s draft class wasn’t flashy. Most casual fans might only recall the top picks—Zaccharie Risacher, Alexandre Sarr, Reed Sheppard, and Castle. Outside of that, many rookies flew under the radar until they started making noise on the court.
Now, as the season wraps, it’s time for the league to crown individual award winners like MVP, DPOY, and ROTY. Media members and league officials vote to keep things objective, but Castle’s already cast his own unofficial ballot — he believes that he should already be considered a lock to win the ROTY award.
Statistically, Castle has a case. Sarr and Risacher were both drafted ahead of Castle; however, the San Antonio Spurs star has established himself as a talented offensive engine.
While Sarr and Risacher are scoring 13.0 and 12.4 points per game, respectively, Castle has proven to be slightly better than them and has been scoring 14.5 ppg. As a result, one can understand why Castle believes that he should win the Rookie of the Year award.
With the league leaning heavily on offense, Castle’s scoring stands out. And while he didn’t get to share much court time with Victor Wembanyama, the extra touches helped him grow. He made the most of the opportunity, even with the Spurs trading for De’Aaron Fox midseason, who was later ruled out for the year as well.
“I feel like, at this point, I pretty much got it locked up. Just continuing to be myself, not really think about it when I’m in the game. Game by game, I feel like I’m more confident enough to be able to say that I am it.”
The rookie guard may be in a perfect spot long-term. With Fox now in town, Castle could be the ideal third piece in a young, evolving trio alongside Fox and Wembanyama. If things click, San Antonio might be quietly building the league’s next young superteam.
There’s no immediate pressure. The Spurs are playing the long game with Wembanyama’s prime still years away. If Castle continues to develop, his rookie season could be just the beginning of a much bigger run.