Kia Rookie Ladder: Stephon Castle Maintains Top Spot as All-Star Break Commences

San Antonio guard Stephon Castle's role on the team has shifted once more, but he is still holding strong at the top of the Kia Rookie Ladder.

Castle had been starting for the Spurs until the team acquired point guard De’Aaron Fox from the Sacramento Kings last week. His production has stayed strong, including a 33-point outburst against the Hornets last week.

Off the bench, Castle has averaged 17 points and 14.8 field-goal attempts per 36 minutes. When he started, it was 18.4 and 15.6 respectively.

Memphis’ two stellar newcomers, center Zach Edey and wing Jaylen Wells, flip-flop from last week in the Nos. 2 and 3 spots. Two more big men, New Orleans’ Yves Missi and Miami’s Kel’el Ware, complete the Top 5.

Here are the weekly rankings of the Class of 2024, with the Ladder itself taking an All-Star break until Feb. 26:

Weekly recap

But when Williams’ failed his physical in L.A., the trade was rescinded and, abruptly, Knecht was back in purple and gold. His cross-country flight and the buzz around Luka Dončić’s debut probably made circumstances stranger for Knecht. His role for this season will shake out soon and the No. 17 pick last June will be as appreciated as he was during his eye-opening November (13.6 ppg, 46% 3FG).

Storyline to watch

Rookies on All-Star Sunday. Thanks to the new mini-tournament format, we’re pretty much assured of seeing one or more of the players on this Ladder participating on Sunday at All-Star Weekend. The squad that prevails in the Castrol Rising Stars event Friday will advance to be one of four in the big dogs’ version two days later at Chase Center. Eleven members of the Class of 2024 are scattered across the four Rising Stars rosters — Houston Rockets swingman Reed Sheppard will compete with the NBA G League contingent.

A total of 45 rookies have been All-Stars, but only two have managed it this century: Yao Ming in 2003 and Blake Griffin in 2011. No LeBron James, no Karl-Anthony Towns, no Victor Wembanyama.

Latest ranking

(All stats through Tuesday, Feb. 11)

1. Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs

Season stats: 12.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 3.6 apg
Last Ladder: No. 1
Draft pick: No. 4

Castle seemed especially suited for coming off the bench on Wednesday at Charlotte, when he went for a season-best 33 points. The 6-foot-6 guard hit 10 of his 15 shots and added 10-for-11 from the line. Of the opportunities he got in reserve, Castle said: “We have a lot of shooters in that unit, so it really opens the floor up. …We usually go ‘no big’ in that unit, so we play really fast … and I thrive in transition.”

2. Zach Edey, Memphis Grizzlies

Season stats: 9.6 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 1.2 bpg
Last Ladder: No. 3
Draft pick: No. 9

The more Edey plays, the greater the impact. He leads rookies in plus/minus at +192, and in the 20 games in which he has logged at least 21 minutes, he’s at +257. In the 18 games in which he’s had shorter stints, the big fella is -71. Edey also leads all rotation rookies with a 10.7 net rating.

3. Jaylen Wells, Memphis Grizzlies

Season stats: 11.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.7 apg
Last Ladder: No. 2
Draft pick: No. 39

As the Grizzlies get healthier, the challenges to the rookies’ playing time will be greater. Edey is 7-foot-4, a unique “skill” none of Memphis’ reserves can offer. But Wells averaged just 18.3 minutes and 4.3 shots in three games through Saturday as teammates Vince Williams Jr. and GG Jackson worked back into the rotation.

4. Yves Missi, New Orleans Pelicans

Season stats: 8.7 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 1.5 bpg
Last Ladder: No. 4
Draft pick: No. 21

Just wrapped a solid five-game stretch (7.8 ppg, 9.2 rpg) of peak matchups vs. Kristaps Porziņģis, Nikola Jokić, Domantas Sabonis, Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren. And look here, Missi already is climbing the Pelicans’ stats ladder (not to be confused with this esteemed Ladder).

5. Kel’el Ware, Miami Heat

Season stats: 8.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1 bpg
Last Ladder: No. 5
Draft pick: No. 15

Young guy inconsistency: From 8-for-12 at Chicago to 8-for-27 in his next three games. A 4-for-4 night from the arc against the Magic, but 9-for-37 otherwise from deep over the past four weeks. But who’s saying no to this?

The Next 5:

6. Zaccharie Risacher, Atlanta Hawks

Season stats: 11.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.2 apg
Last Ladder: No. 7
Draft pick: No. 1

In comfort zone lately, shooting 55.4% (39.1% on 3-pointers) in February.

7. Bub Carrington, Washington Wizards

Season stats: 8.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 4.0 apg
Last Ladder: No. 9
Draft pick: No. 14

Scored a season-best 23 points Saturday with five 3-pointers, seven assists and two turnovers vs. Hawks.

8. Alexandre Sarr, Washington Wizards

Season stats: 11.5 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 2.2 apg
Last Ladder: No. 6
Draft pick: No. 2

While he was out (ankle sprain, Jan. 27), his mentor, Jonas Valančiūnas, was traded, a sign that the Wizards will give Sarr more minutes.

9. Isaiah Collier, Utah Jazz

Season stats: 6.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 5.7 apg
Last Ladder: No. 10
Draft pick: No. 29

On pace to surpass Jazz icon John Stockton’s rookie assists rate (5.1). He’s also averaging 8.8 apg over the past five weeks, which would rank fifth in the league.

10. Tristan da Silva, Orlando Magic

Season stats: 8.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.7 apg
Last Ladder: No. 8
Draft pick: No. 18

Wait, what’s this? No love for da Silva and Anthony Black from teammate Goga Bitadze for their role in the Rising Stars? Wow.

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Steve Aschburner has written about the NBA since 1980. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on X.

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