Longtime writer Sam Vecenie has drawn new conclusions about the 2024 NBA Draft a few short months after the end of the season, and it's one that Spurs fans were correctly yapping about all year. If the Atlanta Hawks had known better, they should have drafted Stephon Castle (subscription) with the number one pick. He's the best in the class now, and he'll continue to hold that status over his peers.
It’s time to re-draft the 2024 NBA Draft.
Would Reed Sheppard remain a top-five pick? How far does Rob Dillingham tumble?@Sam_Vecenie weighs in: pic.twitter.com/i6PxGAjY3o
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) August 14, 2025
Castle won Rookie of the Year, and it wasn't really a question that he was going to do so. Vecenie pointed out how spectacular the UConn champion was from the start of March to the end of his inaugural campaign, but that kinda undersells it.
You also have to look at what the rest of the candidates were doing, and when you take that into account. Steph dominated the field from the end of January on. No other rookie made a consistent impact on their team like Castle did, and that's the reason why he held the top spot on the Kia NBA Rookie Ladder every single week from the final stretch of January to the end of the year.
Castle is a potential star
The younger half of Area 51 has a similar demeanor to Jalen Hurts. If you know anything about the reigning Super Bowl MVP, you know that he's steadfast in his work ethic. He's very serious most of the time, and he's all about the business of getting better. He has special physical tools, but they're elevated by a mature mindset and forward-thinking.
Castle possesses similar traits. They will serve him well in his journey in the NBA, so it's a good thing three teams passed on him, so he could land in San Antonio's lap. Had the draft gone the way of Vecenie's updated board, we wouldn't be so confident. It was surprising to see Reed Sheppard listed at number four on this list after the lackluster debut he had, but Sam had his reasons.
The beauty of basketball debate, however, is that we don't all have to agree. I was high on Sheppard coming into that draft, but something didn't click for him in his first season with the Rockets. Granted, Houston boasted a deep guard rotation, so he was buried on the bench, but I have a hard time believing that Castle would have had the same trouble getting on the floor.
Ime Udoka would have had to play him because he was that good and could have impacted winning. Had San Antonio's rookie ended up playing in East Texas, he may have even prompted the team to trade Jalen Green sooner. But who knows? All we know is that three teams passed on him, and if they had a chance to do it again, they wouldn't. So, thank you for that ineptitude.