SAN ANTONIO — Polymarket, the world’s largest prediction market, recently updated its 2024-25 NBA Rookie of the Year Award projected winner, and San Antonio Spurs‘ Stephon Castle is their runaway winner.
According to Polymarket, Castle’s chances of winning the award are 37.6%. He leads the rookie pack by a good margin with Lakers’ Dalton Knecht at 19%, Hawks’ Zaccharie Rischer at 10%, and 76ers’ Jarred McCain at 3%.
McCain was considered the hands-down winner; however, he suffered a lateral meniscus tear in the left knee and is out indefinitely.
And it is not just Polymarket predicting that the Spurs rookie will ultimately win the award.
Oddamaker OddsShark has Castle’s odds set at +125, which is good for the No. 1 spot in the award race.
Oddsshark has the New Orleans Pelicans’ Yves Missi (+225) and the Lakers’ Dalton Knecht (+350) trailing Castle.
Castle has been a big surprise at the start of the season.
He’s averaging 11.7 points per game, including 2.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 38% field goal shooting. In his last three games, he posted 12.0 points per game, including 3.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 39% field goal shooting.
“I feel like it just comes from my versatility defensively. I feel like that kind of set it off,” said Castle about his confidence on the court. “And then, just with the playmaking stuff that I can do. I set screens and do whatever I can do on the court to help us win. I feel like that’s where most of the confidence comes from.”
This season, Castle has tied his career-high in points (23) twice, is second in rookie scoring and assists among rookies, and is first in free throw makes at 2.5 per game.
Despite his success this season, he admits he is still learning, which bodes well for him to wrap up his rookie campaign and make a big push for the Rookie of the Year honor.
“Just sticking with our systems, finding places to be aggressive, just understanding who you are on the court with, especially off the ball a lot,” he said. “Knowing when to cut, just stuff like that, get yourself going off easy buckets. It’s always easier to score off your defense, too. Just bringing that kind of intensity, trying to get stops, trying to get easier buckets in transition.”
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