Flanked by San Antonio Spurs royalty, Stephon Fortress was named Rookie of the Yr.
At his celebratory press convention, San Antonio’s earlier Rookie of the Yr winners: all-time greats David Robinson and Tim Duncan and a future face of the league Victor Wembanyama, all appeared on stage at hand Fortress the trophy and welcome the UConn product into elite firm.
Fortress’s victory marked the primary time since 2016 an NBA workforce had back-to-back Rookie of the Yr winners after Wembanyama took house the award final season. The final workforce to take action was the Minnesota Timberwolves, when Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Cities received the award in 2015 and 2016.
In a landslide victory, Fortress earned 92 out of 100 first-place votes. He additionally earned seven second-place votes and a single third-place vote. Fortress completed with 482 factors, 237 forward of Atlanta Hawks ahead Zaccharie Risacher, the highest general decide within the draft, who completed with 245 factors.
Risacher garnered 5 first-place votes 64 second-place votes and 28 third-place votes. Memphis Grizzlies ahead Jaylen Wells completed with three first-place votes, 23 second-place votes and 39 third-place votes. No different candidate acquired any first-place votes.
Fortress had a breakout rookie season for a rebuilding Spurs workforce constructed round Wembanyama. He appeared in 81 video games, beginning in 47 of them, and averaged 14.7 factors per sport. He posted two 30-point performances, together with a career-high 33 factors on Feb. 7 in a 117-116 loss to the Hornets, the place the rookie shot an environment friendly 10-15 from the sector and 60% from past the arc.
To cap it off, he even took three-time dunk contest winner Mac McClung to the wire within the closing spherical of this yr’s contest.
The Spurs at the moment are one of many youngest groups within the league rebuilding a younger core, with solely three rostered gamers over the age of 30. Regardless of their youth, the Spurs improved their win whole from final yr by 12 wins, ending with a 34-48 report.
With a proficient draft class getting into the 2025 NBA Draft, San Antonio is hoping the lottery falls into their favor to probably draft one other Rookie of the Yr candidate.
