Stephon Castle Leads Rookie of the Year Race as NBA Season Nears End

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle has been named the Western Conference’s Kia Rookie of the Month for March, maintaining his lead in the Rookie of the Year race as the NBA season approaches its conclusion.

Castle, who previously won the award in January, averaged a rookie-best 19.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in March. This recognition places him alongside Spurs legends David Robinson, Tim Duncan, and Victor Wembanyama as the only players in franchise history to earn the honor multiple times in a season.

“I feel like the game is already slowing down for him, but once he keeps growing — he works his a— off — he’s going to be great,” said Castle’s teammate Keldon Johnson.

Alongside Castle, Atlanta Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher was awarded the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for March. Risacher averaged 16.3 points during the month, with a career-high 36-point game against the Milwaukee Bucks on March 30.

With only a few games remaining in the regular season, Castle leads the Rookie of the Year odds board at -500, indicating an 83.33% probability that he will secure the award. His main competitors, Risacher and Washington Wizards forward Alex Sarr, are still in contention but facing uphill challenges.

Risacher burst onto the scene in March, which saw him reach the highest scoring output of his career thus far. Though his emergence comes late in the season, his performance has significantly bolstered his candidacy.

The 2025 Rookie of the Year race has seen a number of players vying for recognition. In contrasting circumstances, Castle capitalized on increased playing time due to the Spurs losing star Victor Wembanyama to injury earlier in the season.

Castle, who is averaging 14.2 points per game over the season, highlighted his potential with a near triple-double performance against the Cleveland Cavaliers where he finished with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists.

The competition among this year’s rookie class remains fierce, with statistics showing that players such as Alex Sarr, who averaged 13 points and 6.6 rebounds in March, and Kel’el Ware, who has garnered double-doubles in recent games, are also making their case.

Another standout, Zaccharie Risacher, despite a subpar performance against the Portland Trail Blazers, has left a mark with his impressive three-point shooting, leading the Eastern conference rookies with 55 made shots from beyond the arc during the season.

As the regular season reaches its climax, voting for the Rookie of the Year award kicks off amid these standout performances. Analysts predict that the final games will be crucial for players like Risacher and Sarr, who need to capitalize to claim the award against the odds in favor of Castle.

The final voting period will occur shortly after the NBA playoffs commence, ensuring that the spotlight remains on the remarkable achievements of this year’s rookie class.