Stephon Castle has chance for accomplishment only seen once in NBA history

Stephon Castle now holds the top spot on the NBA Rookie Ladder. He's also the odds-on favorite to win Rookie of the Year, according to FanDuel. He was in second place on both lists until Jared McCain suffered a meniscus tear that will keep him sidelined indefinitely. McCain was averaging 15.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 38% from three.

Injuries are always unfortunate, and it seems like they've been getting worse over the last few years despite advanced training and recovery techniques compared to the old days. But regardless of the time period, they're a part of the game, and the league must go on. To that effect, Castle, who had already begun a strong push, now leads the field to take home the honor when the season concludes.

Minnesota is the only team in history with back-to-back ROY winners

Andrew Wiggins (2015) and Karl Anthony-Towns (2016) are the only two players to win the award for the same franchise in consecutive years. With Victor Wembanyama's win last season, Stephon Castle can add San Antonio's name to that shortlist if he brings it home next summer.

The rook has had a great start to his career, averaging 11.7 points per game, gaining respect from his peers, and closing games alongside Chris Paul and Victor Wembanyama. He's hit big shots, defended the best players, and he keeps his poise through it all. Castle is a part of one of the best starting lineups in basketball, and after watching him play, it's not surprising.

The UConn champion knows how to play the game, understanding the fundamentals of basketball while learning from his mistakes—which are few. It's early, but the 2024 draft class doesn't look to be a strong one. There will be a few players who turn themselves into good players, but it's nothing like the upcoming field.

Last season may not have gone how most fans envisioned it, but it put them in a position to select Castle with the fourth pick. He's the only rookie besides McCain projecting star potential at this early stage in their careers. Some guys jump off the screen immediately, and Steph does that.

His 3-point shooting has taken a hit over the past few games—Castle is shooting 21.7% over his last five games—but he's still producing at a high level, minus his two-point outing against the Timberwolves. It was his first game after missing the previous contest and the only action he'd had in a week due to the scheduling around the Emirates NBA Cup. He gets a mulligan for that one.

After another extended break, the Spurs will be back in action tomorrow, December 19, against the Atlanta Hawks. Then, the Rookie of the Year favorite can continue his campaign to make history.