Spurs’ Stephon Castle Leads Rookie of the Year Race with Edey, McCain Injuries

With injuries abound in the NBA, Stephon Castle will have a chance at Rookie of the Year.

Dec 5, 2024; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) after being fouled during the second half at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images / Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

With various other rookies out due to injury, San Antonio Spurs’ guard Stephon Castle has likely assumed the mantle of Rookie of the Year front-runner.

On Saturday, it was announced that front-runner Jared McCain would be sidelined indefinitely due to a torn lateral meniscus, extremely unfortunate news given his white-hot start to his career.

Zach Edey, too, was the likely front-runner before injury. While he’s back in the lineup after missing weeks — totaling 13 points and 10 rebounds in his return — he’s still behind the curve. He’ll have more than enough time to make up that ground, but others have likely overtaken the top spots, starting with Castle.

The No. 4 pick in the draft, the former UConn Husky was supremely talented as a two-way guard-wing hybrid, but has gotten off to an ever better than many thought.

Through 25 games, Castle has averaged 11.7 points on 38% shooting, adding 3.9 assists and 2.6 rebounds per game. While the offensive stats aren’t eye-popping, there’s little resistance from other rookies there, and his patented defense has more than made up for the gap in efficiency.

Castle has averaged nearly a steal per game, transferring his stifling defensive skillset flawlessly from college to the pros.

He’s been a great addition next to superstar Victor Wembanyama, providing enough impact on both ends to justify time on-court often.

While he’ll still need to continue ramping up his game if he wants to keep the reigns on a potential Rookie of the Year campaign, the early signs are there.

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