By Jeff McDonald, Staff writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2025-04-30 16:26:07
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
从左至右，蒂姆·邓肯，大卫·罗宾逊，斯蒂芬·卡斯尔和维克托·文班亚马在2025年4月30日星期三于圣安东尼奥的Victory Capital Performance Center举行的卡斯尔2024-2025赛季起亚NBA年度最佳新秀奖杯颁奖仪式上合影。这四位球员都曾在效力圣安东尼奥马刺队时荣获年度最佳新秀。罗宾逊在1989-90赛季获奖，邓肯在1997-98赛季获奖，文班亚马在2023-2024赛季获奖。
斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(Stephon Castle)的第一个NBA赛季，以闪耀开场。
早在六月份，这位即将加入马刺队的球员就成为了布鲁克林的焦点，当时他佩戴着一条镶满钻石的城堡项链出现在NBA选秀大会上，这闪闪发光的配饰致敬了他的姓氏。
十个月后，卡斯尔为他的收藏又增添了一点光彩。
在周三正式获颁威尔特·张伯伦奖杯，成为2025年NBA年度最佳新秀时，一向面无表情的卡斯尔也忍不住露出了一丝笑容。
“在赛季末，我毫不怀疑自己会站在这里，”卡斯尔说道，他仍然戴着选秀之夜那条闪闪发光的项链。“听到这个消息正式公布，感觉真的太棒了。”
卡斯尔的胜利，让马刺队连续两年获得年度最佳新秀，紧随维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)上赛季的脚步。
卡斯尔是马刺队历史上第四位获得该奖项的球员。在一个令卡斯尔感动不已的时刻，马刺队新秀“总统山”的其他三位成员——蒂姆·邓肯(Tim Duncan)，大卫·罗宾逊(David Robinson)和文班亚马——周三都亲临Victory Capital Performance Center，为他颁发今年的奖杯。
“我很荣幸，觉得自己不应该成为这个群体的一员，”卡斯尔说道。
一个由全球NBA奖项投票者组成的评审团，显然不这么认为。
前圣安东尼奥马刺队球员大卫·罗宾逊，蒂姆·邓肯，以及现役球员维克托·文班亚马和凯尔登·约翰逊出席了一场典礼，斯蒂芬·卡斯尔（未在照片中）在2025年4月30日星期三于圣安东尼奥的Victory Capital Performance Center获颁他的2024-2025赛季起亚NBA年度最佳新秀奖杯。
与文班亚马不同，卡斯尔并没有以全票的方式赢得年度最佳新秀的荣誉，但他已经非常接近了。
卡斯尔获得了100张第一名选票中的92张，总得分为482分。亚特兰大老鹰队的扎卡里·里萨歇，去年六月选秀大会的状元秀，获得了5张第一名选票和245分。
孟菲斯灰熊队的杰伦·威尔斯，一位二轮选秀的灰姑娘故事主角，以3张第一名选票和123分位列第三。
投票结果在周二TNT的季后赛赛前节目中公布。
在周三的奖杯颁奖典礼开幕时，马刺队总经理布莱恩·莱特(Brian Wright)将卡斯尔介绍为一位“坚韧、聪明、具有竞争力，并且愿意为球队的进步而牺牲”的球员。
20岁的卡斯尔在康涅狄格大学完成学业后，以第四顺位被选中，在他的首个NBA赛季，他场均得到14.7分，领先所有新秀。在81场比赛中，他还贡献了4.1次助攻和3.7个篮板。
身高6英尺6英寸的卡斯尔成为自邓肯之后，马刺队首位在得分和助攻两项数据上均排名前两位的球员，同时他也成为了马刺队最可靠的防守者之一。
他以总得分1190分领先NBA新秀，是本赛季唯一一位得分超过1000分的新秀。卡斯尔还在新秀中以投篮命中数（423个）和总抢断数（74次）领先，并且完成了249次罚球命中——比任何其他新秀球员多出惊人的122次。
卡斯尔曾两次获得西部联盟月度最佳新秀奖，并在二月份全明星周末的NBA新秀挑战赛中被评为最有价值球员。
“我不知道是否有人被要求承担如此多样化的角色和责任，以及他处理这些任务的方式，”马刺队代理主教练米奇·约翰逊说道。“这对一个新秀来说是很多，但他欣然接受了我们扔给他的所有任务。”
圣安东尼奥马刺队球员维克托·文班亚马（右）拥抱他的队友斯蒂芬·卡斯尔（中），卡斯尔被评为2024-2025赛季起亚NBA年度最佳新秀，这是在2025年4月30日星期三于圣安东尼奥的Victory Capital Performance Center举行的一个小型奖杯颁奖典礼上。文班亚马在2023-2024赛季被评为NBA年度最佳新秀。
自1976年NBA-ABA合并以来，没有哪支球队比马刺队拥有更多的年度最佳新秀（四位）。卡斯尔是四人中唯一一位不是通过选秀状元身份加盟的球员。
从他自己的经历出发，文班亚马将卡斯尔获得年度最佳新秀的荣誉，视为团队的奖项。
“这绝不是一个人的功劳，”文班亚马说道。“我真的为我的队友们感到骄傲，他们给了他这样做的机会——成为优秀的队友，创造良好的环境。就像去年球队、我的队友和工作人员为我做的那样，他们今年也为斯蒂芬做了同样的事情。”
卡斯尔的当选，使马刺队成为NBA历史上第五支拥有连续两届年度最佳新秀的球队，也是自明尼苏达森林狼队的安德鲁·威金斯和卡尔-安东尼·唐斯在2015年和2016年完成这一壮举以来的第一支球队。
鲍勃·麦卡杜和厄尼·迪格雷戈里奥曾在1973年和1974年为布法罗勇士队连续赢得年度最佳新秀奖。波特兰开拓者队的杰夫·佩特里和西德尼·威克斯在1971年和1972年做到了这一点，其中佩特里与波士顿凯尔特人队的戴夫·考恩斯分享了这个奖项。厄尔·门罗和韦斯·昂塞尔德在1968-1969赛季将巴尔的摩子弹队列入榜单。
马刺队是自合并以来第一支在没有两个选秀状元的情况下，连续获得年度最佳新秀的球队。
“这充分说明了我们的未来，”卡斯尔谈到马刺队连续两年获得威尔特·张伯伦奖杯时说道。“我们正在做的事情，以及我们计划要做的事情。”
卡斯尔无法预测未来，但他可以肯定一件事。
赢得年度最佳新秀奖，肯定会让他成为众矢之的。他脖子上那座镶满钻石的城堡，可能就像一个靶心——而他已经为此做好了准备。
“NBA中的每个人可能都已经知道我是年度最佳新秀，”卡斯尔说道。“进入下个赛季，我无法像今年这样悄悄地取得成功。能身处这样的位置是一种荣幸。我不会退缩。”
圣安东尼奥马刺队球员斯蒂芬·卡斯尔在2025年4月30日星期三于圣安东尼奥的Victory Capital Performance Center举行的一个小型典礼上等待被介绍给观众，以庆祝他获得2024-2025赛季起亚NBA年度最佳新秀奖。
San Antonio Spurs player Stephon Castle poses for pictures with his 2024-2025 KIA NBA Rookie of the Year trophy during a ceremony at Victory Capital Performance Center in San Antonio on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.
San Antonio Spurs general manager Brian Wright, left, and player Stephon Castle watch an introduction video during a small ceremony held at Victory Capital Performance Center in San Antonio on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, to present Castle with his 2024-2025 KIA NBA Rookie of the Year award.
Former San Antonio Spurs player David Robinson presents the 2024-2025 KIA NBA Rookie of the Year trophy to Stephon Castle during a small ceremony at Victory Capital Performance Center in San Antonio on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.
San Antonio Spurs player Stephon Castle takes a closer look at his 2024-2025 KIA NBA Rookie of the Year trophy during a small ceremony held at Victory Capital Performance Center in San Antonio on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.
Former San Antonio Spurs player Tim Duncan, right, greets Stephon Castle’s father Stacey Castle, during a ceremony held at Victory Capital Performance Center in San Antonio on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, to present Stephon with his 2024-2025 KIA NBA Rookie of the Year trophy. Stacey and Tim played basketball together at Wake Forest during the 1993–94 season.
San Antonio Spurs players Keldon Johnson and De’Aaron Fox attend a ceremony held to present Stephon Castle, not pictured, with his 2024-2025 KIA NBA Rookie of the Year trophy at Victory Capital Performance Center in San Antonio, Wednesday, April 30, 2025.
San Antonio Spurs player Stephon Castle answers questions from reporters after receiving his 2024-2025 KIA NBA Rookie of the Year trophy at Victory Capital Performance Center in San Antonio on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.
San Antonio Spurs player Stephon Castle sports a large Castle-shaped necklace while receiving his 2024-2025 KIA NBA Rookie of the Year trophy at Victory Capital Performance Center in San Antonio on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.
Former Spurs player Tim Duncan, center, attends a ceremony held to present Stephon Castle with his 2024-2025 KIA NBA Rookie of the Year trophy at Victory Capital Performance Center in San Antonio, Wednesday, April 30, 2025.
San Antonio Spurs Stephon Castle holds his 2024-2025 KIA NBA Rookie of the Year trophy during a ceremony at Victory Capital Performance Center in San Antonio, Wednesday, April 30, 2025.
San Antonio Spurs player Stephon Castle walks to the stage to receive his 2024-2025 KIA NBA Rookie of the Year trophy during a small ceremony at Victory Capital Performance Center in San Antonio, Wednesday, April 30, 2025.
San Antonio Spurs player Stephon Castle, left, poses for photos with general manager Brian Wright after receiving his 2024-2025 KIA NBA Rookie of the Year trophy at Victory Capital Performance Center in San Antonio on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.
点击查看原文：Stephon Castle 'humbled' to join Spurs' rookie Mount Rushmore
Stephon Castle ‘humbled’ to join Spurs’ rookie Mount Rushmore
Tim Duncan, from left, David Robinson, Stephon Castle and Victor Wembanyama pose for pictures after Castle was presented with his 2024-2025 KIA NBA Rookie of the Year trophy at Victory Capital Performance Center in San Antonio on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. All four have been named Rookie of the Year while playing for the San Antonio Spurs. Robinson won in 1989-90 season, Duncan won in 1997-98 and Wembanyama won in 2023-2024.
Stephon Castle’s first NBA season began with a bit of bling.
Back in June, the Spur-to-be became the buzz of Brooklyn when he showed up at the NBA draft wearing a necklace depicting pair a diamond-encrusted turrets, a bedazzled homage to his last name.
Ten months later, Castle added another smidgen of shine to his collection.
Officially presented with the Wilt Chamberlain Trophy as the 2025 NBA Rookie of the Year on Wednesday, the normally stone-faced Castle couldn’t help but crack a hint of a smile.
“At the end of the season, I had no doubt in my mind I would be here,” said Castle, still wearing his glittery chain from draft night. “Just to hear it be official, it’s a really good feeling.”
Castle’s triumph gave the Spurs back-to-back Rookies of the Year, following in the footsteps of Victor Wembanyama’s win last season.
Castle was the fourth player in Spurs history to win the award. In a moment that blew Castle away, the other three members of the Spurs’ rookie Mount Rushmore – Tim Duncan, David Robinson and Wembanyama – were on hand at the Victory Capital Performance Center on Wednesday to present him with this year’s trophy.
“Me being humble, I feel like I shouldn’t have been a part of that group,” Castle said.
A global panel of NBA awards voters apparently believed otherwise.
Former San Antonio Spurs players David Robinson, from left, Tim Duncan, and current players Victor Wembanyama and Keldon Johnson attend a ceremony held to present Stephon Castle, not pictured, with his 2024-2025 KIA NBA Rookie of the Year trophy at Victory Capital Performance Center in San Antonio, Wednesday, April 30, 2025.
Unlike Wembanyama, Castle did not win Rookie of the Year honors in unanimous fashion – but he came tantalizingly close.
Castle earned 92 of a possible 100 first-place votes, totaling 482 points on the ballot. Atlanta’s Zaccharie Risacher, the No. 1 pick in last June’s draft, earned five first-place votes and 245 points.
Memphis’ Jaylen Wells, a Cinderella story of a second-round pick, came in third with three first-place votes and 123 points.
The results of the voting were announced Tuesday as part of TNT’s playoff pregame show.
In kicking off Wednesday’s trophy ceremony, Spurs general manager Brian Wright introduced Castle as a player who is “tough, smart, competitive, and willing to sacrifice for the betterment of the team.”
Drafted fourth overall out of Connecticut, the 20-year-old Castle completed his inaugural NBA season averaging 14.7 points to lead all rookies. He also added 4.1 assists and 3.7 rebounds in 81 games.
The 6-foot-6 Castle became the first Spurs rookie since Duncan to rank among the top two on the team in both points and assists, while also emerging as one of the Spurs’ most reliable defenders.
He paced the NBA rookies in total points (1,190), the only member of the class to eclipse 1,000 this season. Castle also led the rookie crop in field goals made (423) and total steals (74), and logged 249 made free throws – a whopping 122 more than any other first-year player.
Castle won a pair of Western Conference Rookie of the Month honors and was named the Most Valuable Player of the NBA Rising Stars Challenge at All-Star weekend in February.
“I don’t know that there’s anybody who has been asked to do the variety of roles and responsibilities, and the way he’s handled it,” Spurs acting coach Mitch Johnson said. “It’s a lot for a rookie and he’s embraced everything we’ve thrown at him.”
San Antonio Spurs player Victor Wembanyama, right, embraces his teammate Stephon Castle, center, who was named the 2024-2025 KIA NBA Rookie of the Year, during a small trophy presentation ceremony at Victory Capital Performance Center in San Antonio, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Wembanyama was named NBA ROTY during the 2023-2024 season.
Since the 1976 NBA-ABA merger, no team has drafted more Rookie of the Year honorees than the Spurs’ four. Castle is the only one of that quartet not to arrive via the top pick in the draft.
Speaking from his own experience, Wembanyama painted Castle’s Rookie of the Year accolade as a team award.
“It’s never one man’s job,” Wembanyama said. “I’m really proud of my teammates for giving him the chance to do that – being good teammates, creating a good environment. Just like the organization and my teammates and the staff did for me last year, they did the same for Steph this year.”
Castle’s selection made the Spurs the fifth team in NBA history to boast back-to-back Rookie of the Year winners, and the first since Minnesota’s Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns accomplished that in 2015 and 2016.
Bob McAdoo and Ernie DiGregorio won consecutive Rookie of the Year awards for the Buffalo Braves in 1973 and 1974. Portland’s Geoff Petrie and Sidney Wicks did it in 1971 and 1972, with Petrie sharing the award with Boston’s Dave Cowens. Earl Monroe and Wes Unseld put the Baltimore Bullets on the list in 1968-1969.
The Spurs are the first team since the merger to land consecutive Rookie of the Year winners without two No. 1 overall picks.
“It speaks highly of our future,” Castle said of the Spurs’ back-to-back Wilt Chamberlain trophies. “What we have going on and what we plan on doing.”
Castle cannot predict the future, but he is sure of one thing.
Winning Rookie of the Year is certain to put a target on him. That diamond-studded castle around his neck might as well be a bullseye – and he is ready for it.
“Everybody in the NBA has probably seen that I’m the Rookie of the Year,” Castle said. “Coming into next year I can’t sneak up on anybody like I did this year. It’s a blessing to be in that position. I don’t shy away from it.”
San Antonio Spurs player Stephon Castle waits to be introduced to the crowd during a small ceremony held at Victory Capital Performance Center in San Antonio on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, to celebrate his 2024-2025 KIA NBA Rookie of the Year award.
By Jeff McDonald, Staff writer, via San Antonio Express-News
