Spurs' Castle named NBA rookie of the year

LOS ANGELES, United States — San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle was named the NBA's Rookie of the Year on Tuesday (Wednesday, Manila time), following in the footsteps of teammate and last season's recipient Victor Wembanyama.

Castle was awarded the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy after a dazzling maiden campaign in the league which saw him average 14.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.

Castle also led the rookie statistics with most total points (1,190), steals (74) and free throws made (249).

Castle, who was chosen by San Antonio with the fourth overall pick in the 2024 draft, is the fourth Spurs player to win the award after Wembanyama, Tim Duncan, and David Robinson.

French star Wembanyama was among the first to congratulate Castle.

"Hustle, heart & just pure talent... all year long, you showed why you deserved this title !! So proud of you," Wembanyama wrote Tuesday on X.

Castle meanwhile said he believed the accolade would make him a marked man.

"I can't help but think about the target that's put on my back but I just think it's nothing that I'm not ready for," the 20-year-old said.