SAN ANTONIO — Slow step, deceleration — whatever they're now calling this new variation of the famed Eurostep — San Antonio rookie Stephon Castle learned and mastered it in his first week as a Spur.
«They taught me that in one of my first workouts,» Castle told ESPN.
The fourth pick of the 2024 NBA draft, Castle, then stuffed the move into his already deep bag and obliterated opponents with it on the way to capturing 2024-25 NBA Rookie of the Year honors. Castle received 92 first-place votes to take the award over runner-up Zaccharie Risacher of the Atlanta Hawks. Memphis Grizzlies rookie Jaylen Wells came in third. Castle became the fourth Spur to win the award, joining Victor Wembanyama, Tim Duncan, and David Robinson.
«I've always been super confident as a player,» Castle told ESPN. «So, I felt like there was no doubt in my mind that I would eventually get to this point, especially with all the work that I put in. I felt like it was just inevitable to happen. I feel like [confidence is] what really got me to this point, and not holding myself back from anything.»
San Antonio became the fifth team in NBA history and just the second team in the past 50 years to feature back-to-back Rookie of the Year winners. Andrew Wiggins (2015) and Karl-Anthony-Towns (2016) are the last consecutive winners of the award for one franchise (Minnesota).
«We have a lot of history in this organization,» Castle told ESPN. «So, to add another thing to our trophy case would definitely mean a lot, especially if it's something that my name is being engraved into.»
Castle played 80 games as a rookie, starting in 47, and led all rookies in total points (1,190), made field goals (423), steals (74). He hit more than 100 more free throws (249) than
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