San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle has been named the 2024-25 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year, earning the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy after a standout debut season.
Stephon Castle is the 2024-25 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year!#NBAAwards | #KiaROY | @Kia pic.twitter.com/mUFlfueT9O
— NBA (@NBA) April 29, 2025
He appeared on NBA TNT Tip-Off and spoke with Ernie Johnson and the rest of the Inside the NBA crew about what the award means to him.
#KiaROY Stephon Castle gave a shoutout to his high school coach when he talked with the fellas 🫶👏 pic.twitter.com/UEwrotojTD
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 29, 2025
Castle becomes the fourth player in franchise history to win the award, joining David Robinson (1989-90), Tim Duncan (1997-98), and Victor Wembanyama (2023-24). The Spurs are now the first team to produce back-to-back Rookie of the Year winners since the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2014-15 (Andrew Wiggins) and 2015-16 (Karl-Anthony Towns).
Castle led all rookies with 14.7 points per game while also averaging 3.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 0.91 steals across 81 games. He ranked first among rookies in total points (1,190), steals (74), and free throws made (249), while finishing top six in both assists and steals per game.
He earned Kia NBA Western Conference Rookie of the Month honors twice, for January and March. After the All-Star break, Castle elevated his play, averaging 17.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in 30 games.
Castle’s poise, two-way impact, and growth throughout the season helped solidify his place among the league’s brightest young stars — and helped extend the Spurs' tradition of elite rookie talent.
