Victor Wembanyama Shares Heartfelt Message for Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle.
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle has officially been named the 2024–25 NBA Rookie of the Year, marking a major milestone in what has already been an impressive young career. His teammate and last season’s Rookie of the Year, Victor Wembanyama, was quick to congratulate him with a warm and supportive message that fans quickly celebrated.
“Hustle, heart & just pure talent… all year long, you showed why you deserved this title !! So proud of you,” Wembanyama shared on X (formerly Twitter), adding a few celebratory emojis to emphasize the sentiment. His message reflected the close bond between the two players and the respect Wembanyama has for Castle’s work ethic and skill.
With this latest honor, the Spurs now boast back-to-back NBA Rookie of the Year winners, further solidifying the team’s bright future. Castle, a 20-year-old standout from the University of Connecticut and a 2024 NCAA Champion, was selected by San Antonio in last June’s NBA Draft. In his debut season, he posted solid numbers—averaging 14.7 points, 4.1 assists, and 3.1 rebounds over the course of 81 games, 47 of which he started.
During a TNT interview after the announcement, Castle expressed how meaningful the recognition was to him. “Coming in, with all of the confidence that I have in myself as a player, [winning the award] was definitely a goal of mine coming in from Day 1,” he said, according to *The Athletic*. “I am just happy I was able to execute it.”
While Castle thrived this season, Wembanyama faced a setback due to deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder, which sidelined him for a portion of the year. However, as of early April, reports indicated that his recovery was progressing well, raising hopes that both Wembanyama and Castle will be healthy and on the court together for the next season. With this young core, the Spurs appear well-positioned for a resurgence—and Castle’s Rookie of the Year title is a promising step forward.
