Evidently, fourth place is former University of Connecticut standout guard Stephon Castle’s spot until he can prove otherwise. The San Antonio Spurs took the Georgia native fourth overall in the 2024 NBA draft, and now he is projected to be the fourth-most likely rookie to take home the NBA’s 2024 Rookie of the Year award.
That projection was put together by Bleacher Report NBA draft expert Jonathan Wasserman, so it should be taken seriously. Per Wasserman, “Castle showed the different ways he can impact games without needing shooting range” in summer league, and “his change of pace, physicality and passing instincts will continue to work for driving, finishing after contact and playmaking.”
His size and length will make him a menace defensively, and he “has a great feel for keeping defenders off balance and moving them with his power before using touch shots in the lane or vision to set up teammates” on the other end of the court.
Is San Antonio Spurs rookie guard Stephon Castle the steal of the 2024 NBA draft? https://t.co/tQsmAes3Ec pic.twitter.com/4uh0NlPmuP
— SpursWire (@Spurs_Wire) July 25, 2024
“Even with the arrival of Chris Paul and likelihood that Devin Vassell and Harrison Barnes both start, Castle should still be looking at plenty of minutes,” he adds. “He could be used as a secondary creator with the starters, a backup point guard for the second unit, or a big-wing defender at the 3.”
“A shaky jump shot may make it tough to consistently score in volume, but Castle should find other ways to reach double figures while adding supporting assist and rebounding numbers.”
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