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Stephon Castle of San Antonio continues to hold the leading position on the Kia Rookie Ladder and is regarded as a prime contender for the NBA’s Wilt Chamberlain Trophy, awarded to the top rookie of the year, according to Las Vegas odds.
However, uncertainty looms. The competitive nature of the 2024 rookie class has meant that no player has completely pulled ahead, with each contender showcasing both notable strengths and areas of improvement.
For Castle, the recent upheaval in San Antonio has posed several hurdles. The acquisition of De’Aaron Fox from the Sacramento Kings has shuffled the backcourt, while the absence of pivotal young talent Victor Wembanyama (shoulder blood clot) and coach Gregg Popovich’s indefinite leave (due to a stroke) have forced Castle to navigate substantial adjustments both as a player and as a newcomer to the professional level.
In his last five games leading up to the matchup with Houston on Wednesday (9:30 ET, ESPN), the 6-foot-6 guard has averaged 9.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game, shooting only 33% overall (20% from three-point range) while averaging 19.5 minutes played, all coming off the bench in the Spurs’ latest lineup.
During the recent game against New Orleans on Tuesday, he scored just four points in 12 minutes, leading interim coach Mitch Johnson to face inquiries about why Castle did not play at all in the fourth quarter.
At this point, the Rookie of the Year (ROY) competition remains wide open.
•So what are NBA fans’ thoughts about rookies participating in the All-Star festivities? It’s apparent that some veteran players—most notably Draymond Green—were not pleased with the inclusion of the Castrol Rising Stars team in the All-Star Game mini-tournament, especially after eight legitimate All-Stars were sidelined in the so-called semifinal round.
•Castle reflected on his experiences from the All-Star weekend, where he was named MVP of the Castrol Rising Stars contest and took on Mac McClung in the AT&T Slam Dunk competition. “I’m worn out,” he admitted. “I felt my third dunk could have scored a 50, but I get that it was a 49. If I had nailed it on the first attempt, I might have edged out the score.”
•The rookie situation in Minnesota remains intriguing, with Terrence Shannon Jr. adding a new level of toughness to the Timberwolves. Meanwhile, Jaylen Clark has exceeded expectations with his contributions. Both players have positively influenced the team, while Rob Dillingham, the eighth overall pick, continues to focus on his development.
Buzelis: ‘I aim to win [ROY]’ Chicago’s Matas Buzelis has probably not convinced many beyond his immediate family with this ambition. He arrived late to his rookie season due to the Bulls’ indecision regarding the franchise’s future, which kept the No. 11 pick on a tight leash until the trade deadline. His season averages—6.7 points and 2.9 rebounds—might not see significant improvement in the remaining games. Nevertheless, he has recently averaged 14 points on 51.6% shooting in February.
“I truly believe I can make a push for it,” Buzelis stated to Bulls.com. “I absolutely believe that, and I’m determined to manifest it.”
(All statistics are through Tuesday, February 25)
1. Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs
Season statistics: 12.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists
Previous Ladder Rank: No. 1
Draft selection: No. 4
Although Castle’s stats have dipped recently, his prospects remain promising. In a conversation with Andscape.com following the All-Star Weekend, he reflected on his NBA path thus far: “If someone told me a year ago that I’d be in this position, I probably wouldn’t have believed it. However, I’ve grown accustomed to the effort I’ve put in and my faith in God. I’m grateful for all these opportunities.”
2. Jaylen Wells, Memphis Grizzlies
Season statistics: 11.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists
Previous Ladder Rank: No. 3
Draft selection: No. 39
Since the last ladder, Wells has recorded averages of 15 points and 3.8 rebounds while shooting 54.2% overall and 44.8% from beyond the arc. He has been in relentless pursuit of Castle and others who have held the top position this season. Coach Taylor Jenkins commented on his consistency and ability to avoid the rookie slump, saying, “His discipline has really stood out. He is experiencing both successful moments and areas of growth. He quickly addresses any mistakes he makes.”
3. Zach Edey, Memphis Grizzlies
Season statistics: 9.1 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.2 blocks
Previous Ladder Rank: No. 2
Draft selection: No. 9
The Grizzlies value Edey for his defensive skills and his eagerness to rectify teammates’ errors. His commitment was once again seen in a recent scuffle against Cleveland. “He went after my player,” Edey stated.
4. Kel’el Ware, Miami Heat
Season statistics: 8.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1 block
Previous Ladder Rank: No. 5
Draft selection: No. 15
Ware’s emerging stats have propelled him higher (9.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.2 blocks since the last ladder). However, analysis of his 15 starts revealed some defensive shortcomings, notably that Miami’s defensive rating (117.9) when Ware is on the floor without Bam Adebayo would rank 27th out of 30 teams. On a positive note, when both players are on the court together, the rating improves to 106.1, which would place them second.
5. Yves Missi, New Orleans Pelicans
Season statistics: 8.5 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.5 blocks
Previous Ladder Rank: No. 4
Draft selection: No. 21
Beyond the rookie rankings, Missi stands fourth in offensive rebounding per 36 minutes among all 193 players who have logged over 1,000 minutes. He averages 4.7 rebounds, trailing only Walker Kessler (5.5), Clint Capela (5.3), and Jalen Duren (5).
6. Zaccharie Risacher, Atlanta Hawks
Season statistics: 11.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Previous Ladder Rank: No. 6
Draft selection: No. 1
Accepting that he is receiving typical rookie treatment from referees, the tall wing has been honing his ability to drive through contact against well-configured guards. “I don’t expect any calls,” he noted.
7. Isaiah Collier, Utah Jazz
Season statistics: 7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 6.0 assists
Previous Ladder Rank: No. 9
Draft selection: No. 29
There’s a surge of enthusiasm in Salt Lake City regarding the rookies lately, especially with Kyle Filipowski and Collier making waves. The sturdy guard is a strong contender for Rookie of the Month in the West with averages of 11.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 9.3 assists, and 30.8 minutes per game in February.
8. Bub Carrington, Washington Wizards
Season statistics: 9.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists
Previous Ladder Rank: No. 7
Draft selection: No. 14
Carrington struggled in a game against the Nets after a seven-game stretch averaging 14.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 5.1 assists. “One of his strengths is helping us get organized,” remarked coach Brian Keefe. “Now he is making great reads.”
9. Alex Sarr, Washington Wizards
Season statistics: 11.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.6 blocks
Previous Ladder Rank: No. 8
Draft selection: No. 2
Sarr scored 22 points against the Bucks on Friday, but is currently managing an ankle injury and has only played twice since January 27.
10. Donovan Clingan, Portland Trail Blazers
Season statistics: 5.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.6 blocks
Previous Ladder Rank: Not ranked
Draft selection: No. 7
His next step is achieving consistency. Before the break, he averaged 19 points and 13.5 rebounds in two games but has since seen those numbers drop to 7.0 points and 8.0 rebounds in three games.
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Steve Aschburner has been covering the NBA since 1980. You can send him an email here, view his archives here, and follow him on social media.
The opinions expressed on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its teams, or Warner Bros. Discovery.
