Spurs guard Stephon Castle has been named the NBA’s Rookie of the Month for the Western Conference in January, while Heat center Kel’el Ware has earned the honor for the Eastern Conference, the league announced today (via Twitter).
Castle, the fourth overall pick in the 2024 draft, appeared in 12 games for San Antonio last month, starting 10 of them. He averaged 14.9 points, 3.6 assists, and 3.1 rebounds in 27.0 minutes per game, with a shooting line of .431/.288/.727.
Of the nine San Antonio players who logged at least 100 minutes in January, Castle had the best net rating of the bunch (+1.0) and was one of just two Spurs – along with Victor Wembanyama – whose net rating was positive.
Over in the East, Ware began playing a regular rotation role for the Heat in late December and carried that momentum over to the new year, earning a promotion to the starting lineup midway through January.
In 16 total outings (five starts) for the month, Ware averaged 13.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in 24.7 minutes per night. He also scored extremely efficiently, with shooting percentages of 56.5% from the floor and 44.7% on three-pointers.
It’s the first Player of the Month nod for either player. They beat out fellow nominees Isaiah Collier, Ryan Dunn, and Jaylen Wells in the West and Tristan da Silva, Zaccharie Risacher, and Alex Sarr in the East, according to the NBA (Twitter link).
Ware is gonna be a beast. Castle also has a chance to be very, very good. I’m not a Spurs fan but I’m glad they didn’t have to give him up to get Fox.
Worst draft ever.
Pretty sure that’s gonna remain 2000. Only 17 total players who were better than replacement value, eight worth more than 10 VORP in their careers. Five total guys who were better than just an average roleplayer. Quentin Richardson is sixth in total VORP from that draft. Morris Peterson is 6th in total win-shares. 2000 is an all-time bad draft for sports as a whole, not just the NBA.