Jimmy Boyd in 
Every NBA season, sports bettors eagerly eye the Rookie of the Year odds board for the next breakout star.
The 2024–25 race did not disappoint – especially if you backed Stephon Castle early. The San Antonio Spurs’ rookie guard officially captured the 2024–25 NBA Rookie of the Year award, making it two straight seasons a Spurs player has taken home the honor.
Castle, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 draft, didn’t just win – he dominated. He garnered 92 of 100 first-place votes, leaving little doubt in the voting. (Atlanta’s Zaccharie Risacher got 5 first-place votes and Memphis’s Jaylen Wells got 3, but it wasn’t really close.)
Castle averaged a solid 14.7 points, 4.1 assists, and 3.7 rebounds, playing 81 of 82 games and leading all rookies in total points and steals. His consistent production and two-way impact made him the clear choice for ROY.
A mid-season twist helped his campaign: teammate (and last year’s ROY) Victor Wembanyama missed time with an injury, giving Castle a bigger role down the stretch. The 20-year-old took full advantage, upping his minutes to ~27 per game and cementing himself as the top rookie.
The result? San Antonio boasts back-to-back Rookie of the Year winners – Castle following Wembanyama – an increasingly rare feat.
San Antonio fans were treated to a second straight Rookie of the Year winner, as Castle followed in Wemby’s footsteps from 2023–24. The Spurs now have four ROY trophies in franchise history (the others belong to Wembanyama, Tim Duncan in 1998, and David Robinson in 1990) . It’s safe to say the future is bright in the Alamo City.
2025-26 NBA Rookie of the Year Odds
2024–25 NBA Rookie of the Year Preseason Odds & Takeaways
For those who foresaw Castle’s rise, the betting rewards were huge.
Coming into the season, he was not atop the oddsboard by any means. Opening odds had Castle around +700 (roughly third-favorite) to win Rookie of the Year – well behind names like Washington’s 7-footer Alex Sarr (+350) and Atlanta’s Zaccharie Risacher (+450) who were the early favorites.
Castle’s preseason odds were as long as +1200 at some sportsbooks, reflecting that he wasn’t a widely backed choice initially. Simply put, bettors who grabbed Castle at 7/1 or 12/1 odds were betting on talent over hype – and it paid off big.
As the season unfolded, Castle’s odds flipped fast. His steady play (and perhaps that weaker rookie class) turned him from a dark horse into the clear frontrunner.
By late in the year, sportsbooks had him as an odds-on favorite – we’re talking around -1200 to -1600 by April – essentially a foregone conclusion.
In other words, the bookmakers were all but ready to pay out Castle tickets well before the season ended. If you were holding a preseason Castle ROY ticket, you watched the odds shift dramatically in your favor.
The fact that a +700 longshot became a -1500 favorite is the kind of futures betting story sports bettors dream about. Castle’s win is a reminder that value can often lie outside the top pick; the rookie race can be more wide-open than the initial odds imply.
(Remember, last year’s ROY, Wembanyama, was a heavy preseason favorite and delivered. But history shows that being the No. 1 draft pick isn’t a guarantee for Rookie of the Year – only about 21 of the past winners were top picks. Savvy bettors who identify the right situation and skillset – like Castle’s in San Antonio – can capitalize on generous odds.)
Past NBA Rookie of the Year Award Winners Since 1970
| Year | Winner | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Stephon Castle | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2024 | Victor Wembanyama | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2023 | Paolo Banchero | Orlando Magic |
| 2022 | Scottie Barnes | Toronto Raptors |
| 2021 | LaMelo Ball | Charlotte Hornets |
| 2020 | Ja Morant | Memphis Grizzlies |
| 2019 | Luka Doncic | Dallas Mavericks |
| 2018 | Ben Simmons | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 2017 | Malcolm Brogdon | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2016 | Karl-Anthony Towns | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| 2015 | Andrew Wiggins | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| 2014 | Michael Carter-Williams | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 2013 | Damian Lillard | Portland Trail Blazers |
| 2012 | Kyrie Irving | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2011 | Blake Griffin | Los Angeles Clippers |
| 2010 | Tyreke Evans | Sacramento Kings |
| 2009 | Derrick Rose | Chicago Bulls |
| 2008 | Kevin Durant | Seattle SuperSonics |
| 2007 | Brandon Roy | Portland Trail Blazers |
| 2006 | Chris Paul | New Orleans Hornets |
| 2005 | Emeka Okafor | Charlotte Bobcats |
| 2004 | LeBron James | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2003 | Amar’e Stoudemire | Phoenix Suns |
| 2002 | Pau Gasol | Memphis Grizzlies |
| 2001 | Mike Miller | Orlando Magic |
| 2000 | Elton Brand / Steve Francis | Chicago Bulls / Houston Rockets |
| 1999 | Vince Carter | Toronto Raptors |
| 1998 | Tim Duncan | San Antonio Spurs |
| 1997 | Allen Iverson | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1996 | Damon Stoudamire | Toronto Raptors |
| 1995 | Grant Hill / Jason Kidd | Detroit Pistons / Dallas Mavericks |
| 1994 | Chris Webber | Golden State Warriors |
| 1993 | Shaquille O’Neal | Orlando Magic |
| 1992 | Larry Johnson | Charlotte Hornets |
| 1991 | Derrick Coleman | New Jersey Nets |
| 1990 | David Robinson | San Antonio Spurs |
| 1989 | Mitch Richmond | Golden State Warriors |
| 1988 | Mark Jackson | New York Knicks |
| 1987 | Chuck Person | Indiana Pacers |
| 1986 | Patrick Ewing | New York Knicks |
| 1985 | Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls |
| 1984 | Ralph Sampson | Houston Rockets |
| 1983 | Terry Cummings | San Diego Clippers |
| 1982 | Buck Williams | New Jersey Nets |
| 1981 | Darrell Griffith | Utah Jazz |
| 1980 | Larry Bird | Boston Celtics |
| 1979 | Phil Ford | Kansas City Kings |
| 1978 | Walter Davis | Phoenix Suns |
| 1977 | Adrian Dantley | Buffalo Braves |
| 1976 | Alvan Adams | Phoenix Suns |
| 1975 | Jamaal Wilkes | Golden State Warriors |
| 1974 | Ernie DiGregorio | Buffalo Braves |
| 1973 | Bob McAdoo | Buffalo Braves |
| 1972 | Sidney Wicks | Portland Trail Blazers |
| 1971 | Dave Cowens / Geoff Petrie | Boston Celtics / Portland Trail Blazers |
| 1970 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | Milwaukee Bucks |
NBA Rookie of the Year Award Total Winners by Team
| Team | Total Wins |
|---|---|
| San Antonio Spurs | 4 |
| Toronto Raptors | 3 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 3 |
| Orlando Magic | 3 |
| Charlotte Hornets | 2 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 2 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 2 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 2 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 2 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 2 |
| Chicago Bulls | 2 |
| Charlotte Bobcats | 1 |
| Golden State Warriors | 1 |
| Detroit Pistons | 1 |
| Houston Rockets | 1 |
| Phoenix Suns | 1 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 1 |
| New Orleans Hornets | 1 |
| Seattle SuperSonics | 1 |
| Sacramento Kings | 1 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 1 |
| New Jersey Nets | 1 |
As this history shows, the NBA Rookie of the Year race can be unpredictable. We’ve seen only a few ties (1971, 1995, 2000) and plenty of surprises where the preseason favorites didn’t end up winning.
Stephon Castle’s 2025 win is just the latest example – a reminder to NBA bettors that sometimes the value lies in the underdog, and those early longshot bets can turn into big paydays.
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