Stephon Castle Maintains Lead on Rookie Ladder
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle has experienced yet another shift in his role, yet continues to remain at the top of the Kia Rookie Ladder. After transitioning from a starter role following the acquisition of point guard De’Aaron Fox from the Sacramento Kings, Castle’s performance has remained impressive, including a standout 33-point game against the Hornets last week.
Despite coming off the bench, Castle has been averaging 17 points and 14.8 field-goal attempts per 36 minutes. During his time as a starter, these averages were slightly higher at 18.4 points and 15.6 attempts.
Memphis Rookies Make Up Top Three
In the rankings, Memphis rookies Zach Edey and Jaylen Wells have switched places from last week, now holding the second and third spots respectively. Rounding out the Top 5 are New Orleans’ Yves Missi and Miami’s Kel’el Ware.
Weekly Highlights
Rookies often face a challenging season filled with ups and downs both on and off the court. Lakers guard Dalton Knecht found himself confused on the bench after a trade that sent him to Charlotte fell through when new teammate Mark Williams failed his physical. He’s back with the Lakers, and after a noteworthy start to the season, he will soon see how his role evolves.
Zach Edey made a strong impression during his homecoming game against Toronto, contributing 13 points and 15 rebounds in a decisive victory. Additionally, several rookies recently received notice that their two-way contracts were being upgraded to standard NBA contracts, enhancing their job security.
Upcoming All-Star Participation
Rookies will have a prominent showcase during All-Star Sunday. With the new mini-tournament format, it’s guaranteed that some players from this Ladder will take the floor. Eleven members from the rookie class will participate in the Castrol Rising Stars event, and the winning team will move on to compete in the main event.
Latest Rankings (All stats through Tuesday, Feb. 11)
1. Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs
Season stats: 12.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 3.6 apg
Last Ladder: No. 1
Draft pick: No. 4
Castle recently demonstrated his skills off the bench by scoring a season-high 33 points against Charlotte, showcasing both his shooting accuracy and ability to excel in fast-paced situations.
2. Zach Edey, Memphis Grizzlies
Season stats: 9.6 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 1.2 bpg
Last Ladder: No. 3
Draft pick: No. 9
Edey has made significant contributions each game, particularly excelling when given ample playing time, leading rookies in plus/minus ratings.
3. Jaylen Wells, Memphis Grizzlies
Season stats: 11.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.7 apg
Last Ladder: No. 2
Draft pick: No. 39
Wells’ playing time may be challenged as the Grizzlies’ roster becomes healthier, impacting his minutes on the floor.
