While the NBA playoffs are in full swing, the Spurs’ season ended half a month ago. And there was not much worth remembering about it. They finished as the thirteenth seed in the West, missing the postseason for the sixth straight year. Amid the disappointing campaign however, there was one silver lining. The meteoric rise of Stephon Castle.

Yes, the fourth overall pick of this year’s draft missed only one game the entire season and averaged 14.7 points and over four assists. His 1,190 total points were the most among all rookies and he was the only one to cross the four-digit mark in points. Castle also led the rookies in total steals and made field goals. Sure enough, his incredible year was rewarded appropriately. He has been named the 2024-25 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year.

During the early stages of the season, Sixers’ Jared McCain was the frontrunner to take home the trophy. But the unfortunate lateral meniscus tear in his left knee sidelined him for the season and put him out of the ROTY race. Meanwhile, Castle continued elevating his game one step at a time. What upped his numbers even further was Victor Wembanyama’s season ending deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder.

Well, Wemby was the Spurs’ primary scoring option while he was available. The Frenchman averaged 24.3 points and eleven rebounds, getting his first All-Star nod. But he was forced to sit out after February 16 due to the unfortunate diagnosis. With Victor out, Castle turned into the natural first option, which eventually boosted his ROTY claim. Turns out, Wemby was the first to congratulate Castle on his accomplishment, as he tweeted, “Hustle, heart & just pure talent… all year long, you showed why you deserved this title!! So proud of you @StephonCastle.”

Of course, Castle becomes the fourth Spurs star to bag the rookie award, joining legends Tim Duncan and David Robinson. And obviously, Wemby, who achieved the same feat last year. Elite company indeed. Even the fans were ecstatic about Stephon’s victory.

NBA World can’t wait to see Stephon Castle’s growth as Spurs’ future looks bright

Soon after Wemby’s tweet, the hoop community also began showering Castle with the love he deserves. Comments like “Amen!!!! He’s been absolutely balling out” and “Steph’s the truth, can’t wait to see what he does next” began flooding in. Although there was not much hype around Castle when he got drafted, he does look like the next big superstar. Apart from his incredible rookie season, he also won the 2025 Rising Stars MVP and had a solid showing in the Dunk Contest. So, everyone expects him to take a massive leap next season.

Of course, fans are also excited about what he can achieve playing alongside Wemby. One highlighted the duo’s nickname “AREA 51” stemming from their jersey numbers, while another said, “Our young Goats! The future is bright! x #Area51.” Yes, Victor is expected to return completely healthy at the start of next season. In a recent interview, he revealed that he had begun some hard lifting. So, the shoulder is progressing nicely. And Wemby is hyped for his return, “I’m hungry and I’ll be ready.”

With their young core set led by two ROTYs, the future looks extremely bright for the San Antonio franchise. And one fan wants the Wemby-Castle duo to shine next year, “next season we get it.” While the two have showcased their individual potential, Wemby and Castle need to figure out a way to turn it into team success and hopefully, take the Spurs to their dynasty days once again. Do you think the youngsters can do it now that they have the accolades to back it up?