NBA Rookie of the Year: Jaylen Wells, Stephon Castle setting up for showdown
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NBA Rookie of the Year: Jaylen Wells, Stephon Castle setting up for showdown
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USA TODAY

6:09 a.m. ET March 5, 2025

The race for NBA Rookie of the Year may be coming down to two players.

While a number of first-year players have made their marks this season, the two constants have been Stephon Castle of the San Antonio Spurs — who starred in the Rising Stars Challenge during the league’s All-Star weekend — and Jaylen Wells of the Memphis Grizzlies.

If Castle were to win, it would mark only the third time a team has won the award in consecutive seasons, joining the Timberwolves (2015-16 with Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns) and the Buffalo Braves (1973-74 with Bob McAdoo and Ernie DiGregorio).

Still, the race is wide open, with the No. 1 overall selection, Zaccharie Risacher, coming on recently as one of Atlanta’s primary weapons.

The latest edition of the USA TODAY Sports' rookie power rankings, with stats through Monday's games:

1. Jaylen Wells, Memphis Grizzlies forward

For the most part, Wells has avoided the dreaded rookie wall. A long season can exact punishment on a rookie not used to 82 games with back-to-backs, four games in a week and travel. Wells, who hasn’t missed a game this season, had five consecutive games without hitting double figures in points right before the All-Star break. The break helped, and he has scored 12 or more points in six of eight games since. Well had 19 points and five rebounds in a victory against Phoenix on Feb. 25 and 18 points in a loss against San Antonio on March 1. He is fifth in scoring among rookies with 11.4 points per game, and he is shooting 45% from the field and 38% on 3-pointers. Wells, the No. 39 overall pick, is trying to become just the second second-round draft pick in modern era to win rookie of the year, and he’s doing it for a team that is in fourth place in the Western Conference.

For the most part, Wells has avoided the dreaded rookie wall. A long season can exact punishment on a rookie not used to 82 games with back-to-backs, four games in a week and travel. Wells, who hasn’t missed a game this season, had five consecutive games without hitting double figures in points right before the All-Star break. The break helped, and he has scored 12 or more points in six of eight games since. Well had 19 points and five rebounds in a victory against Phoenix on Feb. 25 and 18 points in a loss against San Antonio on March 1. He is fifth in scoring among rookies with 11.4 points per game, and he is shooting 45% from the field and 38% on 3-pointers. Wells, the No. 39 overall pick, is trying to become just the second second-round draft pick in modern era to win rookie of the year, and he’s doing it for a team that is in fourth place in the Western Conference.

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The March Madness tournament is approaching its final stretch, a season that has seen a number of players stand out. Jaylen Wells and Stephon Castle are both in contention for the award, which comes with a $50,000 prize.

Jaylen Wells, a forward for the Memphis Grizzlies, has shown impressive scoring averages throughout the season, with 11.4 points per game, but his defensive performance has been less impressive. Castle, on the other hand, has consistently impressed with his scoring and rebounding abilities, but his defensive game has been more inconsistent.

As the NBA regular season approaches its final stretch, a pair of players are separating themselves from the field in the race for Rookie of the Year. Jaylen Wells of the Memphis Grizzlies is leading the way, while Stephon Castle of the San Antonio Spurs is not far behind.

Jaylen Wells, a forward for the Memphis Grizzlies, has shown impressive scoring averages throughout the season, with 11.4 points per game, but his defensive performance has been less impressive. Castle, on the other hand, has consistently impressed with his scoring and rebounding abilities, but his defensive game has been more inconsistent.

As the NBA regular season approaches its final stretch, a pair of players are separating themselves from the field in the race for Rookie of the Year. Jaylen Wells of the Memphis Grizzlies is leading the way, while Stephon Castle of the San Antonio Spurs is not far behind.

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- You can still be conservative without praising Trump
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The March Madness tournament is approaching its final stretch, a season that has seen a number of players stand out. Jaylen Wells and Stephon Castle are both in contention for the award, which comes with a $50,000 prize.

Jaylen Wells, a forward for the Memphis Grizzlies, has shown impressive scoring averages throughout the season, with 11.4 points per game, but his defensive performance has been less impressive. Castle, on the other hand, has consistently impressed with his scoring and rebounding abilities, but his defensive game has been more inconsistent.

As the NBA regular season approaches its final stretch, a pair of players are separating themselves from the field in the race for Rookie of the Year. Jaylen Wells of the Memphis Grizzlies is leading the way, while Stephon Castle of the San Antonio Spurs is not far behind.

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- Gene Hackman's dog's cause of death released: Reports
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