Former UConn Huskies star guard Stephon Castle was firmly in the Rookie of the Year race entering Wednesday. However, he made a statement with the San Antonio

San Antonio Spurs prized rookie Stephon Castle has shined as a starter but has struggled to make the same imprint off the bench

A second-half slippage saw the San Antonio Spurs drop their first of two straight games against the Memphis Grizzlies at home. Amid the disappointment, as acting coach Mitch Johnson put it, Stephon Castle served as a small silver lining.

The San Antonio Spurs held a 12-point lead going into the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday but ultimately fell 129-115. Memphis was able to contain Victor Wembanyama, holding him to just 13 points on the offensive side.

When Sochan returned to the starting lineup in mid-December, bumping Castle back to the bench, the rookie’s numbers dropped. Much of that can be traced to a change in opportunity. Castle went from playing 30.5 minutes per game as a starter to 18.9 per game as a reserve.

NBA Rookie of the Year trophy should be considered Stephon Castle’s to lose, but the race will likely be more complicated than that. No rookie has been