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Stephon Castle · Statistics would suggest that the best was yet to come, in terms of Stephon Castle’s ascension towards the top of 2024-25’s Rookie of the Year race. Yet even so, the record will show that the art of climbing ladders has rarely been a problem for the San Antonio Spurs’ No. 4 pick. Perfectly positioned to add to his already-growing fanbase during Christmas Day’s nationally-televised opener, Castle jets the floor in transition, affording him multiple options during a two-on-one, with only Jalen Brunson’s undersized frame impeding his path. Taking a moment under Madison Square Garden’s spotlight for himself, Castle elects to go airborne, cramming in an eye-opening two-handed flush to give the Spurs a one-possession lead in the second quarter. The New York Knicks’ inevitable rally helped them secure victory during their annual December 25, 2024 game, but the NBA’s schedule makers were prescient in picking the Spurs as a formidable, fun-to-watch foe. Among multiple contributors among the Spurs’ bench, Castle chipped in six points, two rebounds, and three assists in 16 minutes. · State of Mint · State of Mint