The 2024-25 Youth Movement NBA Awards: Rookie Edition
Our own Nathan Grubel hands out the 2024-25 Youth Movement NBA awards to top performing rookies, sophomores, and juniors from the regular season.
Welcome to the first annual Youth Movement NBA Awards!
The goal of this is to celebrate the young players in the NBA in more ways than just the traditional set of rookie awards that are officially balloted by the league. Why shouldn’t the top second and third-year players get some recognition for improvements to their games and how well they’re playing?
Not all of those players are quite All-Star or All-NBA level, so unless they’re getting a spot on an All-Defensive team, it’s easy for those who aren’t quite the cream of the crop to get swept under the rug for excellent seasons because they aren’t key parts of the “championship fabric” that is the NBA’s postseason.
With that in mind, here are a few quick caveats:
Just like the Rookie Awards, the Sophomore and Junior Awards will NOT have games played qualifiers to meet like the traditional NBA ballots require (65-game minimum); Older players are expected to play and contribute more, but I didn’t want to put that requirement here (though games played and injuries ARE factored in regarding where certain players finished on my ballots).
Rookie categories have been expanded to include an All-Rookie Third Team, as well as Defensive Rookie of the Year and Most Improved Rookie (Sophomore and Junior Awards also have these additional categories); This is an excellent way to highlight those getting it done beyond the traditional box score categories that are generally factored into voting for Rookie of the Year and All-Rookie, as well as to nominate players who saw legitimate improvements over the course of an entire season.
Over the course of the next few weeks, I’m going to break down each expanded award category and provide my “ballots” for each player class based on years of service.
So, without further ado, let’s get into the meat and potatoes, starting with the rookies!
*All stats are as of 4/2/2025 and are courtesy of Basketball-Reference, Synergy Sports, Dunks and Threes, and Cleaning the Glass*
NBA Rookie of the Year Nominees
Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs
Jaylen Wells, Memphis Grizzlies
Zaccharie Risacher, Atlanta Hawks
Winner: Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs
For most of the season, the answer to Rookie of the Year was Jaylen Wells because of how he was able to assimilate within the construct of a playoff contender on both ends of the floor.
Wells made shots from multiple levels on the floor, and he has guarded each team’s best opposing perimeter threat often this year. That type of output could garner a Rookie of the Year victory in more seasons than some would care to admit.
Where Stephon Castle separated from the pack for me on my “ballot” was in his usage as an on-ball creator during the second half of this season, after Victor Wembanyama’s campaign abruptly ended due to a blood clot condition.
Over Castle’s last 15 games, his usage rate ranks 40th in the entire NBA. No other rookie is particularly close. Players like Zaccharie Risacher and Wells have improved and/or held steady over the course of the season in play finishing-type roles, but they haven’t carried the same burden that Castle has despite some mixed results.
Not only did Wembanyama go out for the Spurs, but newly acquired De’Aaron Fox also saw his season come to an early close, meaning Castle hasn’t had the support of his best teammates around him to command attention in opposing game plans. Yes, Castle’s efficiency waxed and waned all season, particularly from deep, but the Spurs were competitive up until the commencement of Tankathon 2025.
Where I come from when creating a ballot like this is: who are the players that have taken on the biggest roles, played the most minutes, and shown real credible flashes of becoming more down the line? All three of Castle, Wells, and Risacher have had their moments, with Zach Edey right there as a close runner-up to that group.
But Castle’s two-way productivity, along with steady improvement across multiple categories since January, earned him the spot atop my Rookie of the Year ballot. The fact that he was the first rookie in the class to get to 1,000 career points certainly didn’t hurt his candidacy either.
Castle’s mid-range scoring, underrated passing vision, and on-ball defense project as great value alongside Fox and Wembanyama. His upside as a potential “third banana” was on display all season long, and to see him grow as a higher-usage player as the season has gone along is a great sign for Spurs fans across the world.
NBA All-Rookie First Team
Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs
Jaylen Wells, Memphis Grizzlies
Zaccharie Risacher, Atlanta Hawks
Zach Edey, Memphis Grizzlies
Kel’el Ware, Miami Heat
For three of these players, the All-Rookie First Team nod is pretty self-explanatory, given their finishes as Rookie of the Year nominees.
Stephon Castle and Jaylen Wells’s two-way production and complementary skills helped to contribute to winning at different points throughout the season. Both made strong cases for Rookie of the Year, making for easy All-Rookie First Team choices.
Zaccharie Risacher has been on a tear over Atlanta’s last handful of games at the end of March into April. The Hawks are surging in the East at the right time, as Atlanta stands to get into the playoffs for a first round matchup against either the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Boston Celtics. Risacher is certainly a reason why, especially given that Jalen Johnson saw his season come to an early close due to injury.
Risacher’s slash line of .449/.345/.719 is a great sign in terms of his potential as an off-ball scoring wing. Post All-Star break, those marks increased to .483/.396/.743 on increased usage. Risacher wasn’t the top overall shot creator and maker on the Hawks, but he slotted in very well alongside Trae Young and Dyson Daniels as a reliable corner spacer and transition finisher. Even on opportunities where Risacher could attack a closeout or handle on the break, Risacher showed great passing touch in finding his teammates for easy looks both from range and at the basket.
Where Risacher has plenty of room to grow in his game outside of his ball handling is with his defense. There were some moments throughout the season where Risacher put some off-ball deflections together in order to create transition opportunities for his teammates, but as with all young players, there were lapses to point to away from the action. And when Risacher guarded bigger wings and forwards, his lack of strength was evident when guys got downhill and backed him down closer to the rim. Risacher’s length is effective in contesting looks, especially on hard closeouts, but his development physically should help in handling more matchups, providing better utility for a team that desperately needs additional defensive support behind Daniels.
There was one player in particular who was very difficult to leave off the All-Rookie First Team list, but I chose to go with the combination of Zach Edey and Kel’el Ware to round out this group of rookies.
Edey came right into the NBA and made a name for himself on the block. Over the course of the year, there was no real “slump” to point to in terms of production and efficiency. All season, Edey was consistent as a rebounder, post defender, and scorer on the low block. While post-ups were not his most utilized play type as a rookie like they were in college, Edey’s combination of size, strength, and soft touch still was effective for Memphis to go to should the offense break down around Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.
Yes, Edey’s challenges defending in space and turnovers on certain double and triple teams were present in his first professional run, but few players were as consistently productive in this rookie class as Edey. That matters when constructing an All-Rookie First Team ballot.
Lastly in this section, Ware’s insertion into the starting lineup alongside Bam Adebayo has been incredibly fun to watch.
What he’s done as a rim protector, interior finisher, and stretch big over the course of the last 20-25 games has been a bright spot for the Miami Heat after the Jimmy Butler saga came to a close at the trade deadline. Many Heat fans have begged for another center to play alongside Bam over the last few seasons, and Ware’s drop coverage in pick-and-roll is exactly what the doctor ordered to take advantage of Adebayo’s effectiveness as a rover and help defender.
Offensively, Ware can do things athletically that not all big men can in terms of acrobatic finishes at the rim. If he can put more together as a face-up driver and scorer in one-on-one situations, his upside becomes terrifyingly high as a two-way force at the center position.
NBA All-Rookie Second Team
Alex Sarr, Washington Wizards
Donovan Clingan, Portland Trail Blazers
Matas Buzelis, Chicago Bulls
Yves Missi, New Orleans Pelicans
Carlton “Bub” Carrington, Washington Wizards
Alex Sarr was the aforementioned “snub” that I went back and forth on as far as where he fit into the All-Rookie race.
For Sarr, he started the season abysmally from anywhere on the floor offensively. Even though his overall finishing around the basket and effectiveness inside the arc for a center are both still in question, his expanded arsenal from a shooting perspective really took shape in March. He’s ending the season here on one of his better stretches scoring the basketball, while also playing with the same fluidity and grace on defense as he has all year.
As a weak-side shot blocker and transition defender, coupled with his perimeter-oriented scoring punch, it’s easy to envision his upside as a special player long-term. Given how he started the season, however, I couldn’t reward him with a spot over Zach Edey or Kel’el Ware.
Yves Missi started off the year with a bang, and was neck-and-neck with Jaylen Wells at different points for Rookie of the Year. His athleticism and footwork as a 7-footer are downright scary, meaning the New Orleans Pelicans got a potential steal in the 2024 draft class. Not only was Missi utilized as a roller and cutter, but he showed flashes of handling the ball in the halfcourt and making plays for others.
It’s one thing to bring the ball up off a defensive rebound to get a team going in transition, but Missi’s ball-handling is a skill that could really come in handy with expanding New Orleans’ offense around Zion Williamson in the future.
There wasn’t much that Missi did “wrong” to end up on the second team; other players made more improvements to their games as the season went along.
Bub Carrington has my money as one of the 2024 draft’s best shooters (despite the raw percentage dip), as he made an absolute metric load of three-pointers and jump shots over the course of the 2024-25 season. The Washington Wizards could count on Carrington to rip off screens, find gaps in the defense, and rise up for well-timed looks from the perimeter. His at-rim finishing, low volume on rim attempts, and inefficiency operating in pick-and-roll left something to be desired, but he had some tremendous games as a rookie and flashed enough potential to warrant more on-ball opportunities to grow as his career progresses.
Two of the players I was most excited to talk about when writing this awards column were Matas Buzelis and Donovan Clingan. I will save words about Cling Kong for down below, as he ended up winning another of my awards, so this is Buzelis’ spot to shine.
To start the season, Buzelis wasn’t getting much playing time, given the Chicago Bulls’s depth at the wing/forward spots. After some moves, including the trade of one Zach LaVine, Chicago’s rotation opened up to include meaningful starts for Buzelis in a competitive environment. The Bulls are still in position for a potential play-in spot in the Eastern Conference, meaning Mickey Mouse March hasn’t soured on Chicago’s recent efforts.
And to Chicago’s credit, these games have been great spots for Matas to “explore the studio space” a little bit as a downhill driver, spot-up shooter, and multi-positional defender. Some of those results, particularly on defense, have been a bit of a mixed bag. But when Buzelis has been on, he’s been ON. He scored in double figures in 11 of Chicago’s 15 games in March and had a few standout performances, including against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 22nd, dropping 31 points on 12-of-18 from the field.
Overall, you’d like Buzelis to create more deflections and grab defensive rebounds, but what he’s shown offensively in terms of wiggle and creativity has inspired confidence for evaluators and Bulls fans. Buzelis’ upside as a scoring forward with the physical tools to bother and contain matchups defensively is exactly what Chicago needs to develop around young guards like Coby White and Josh Giddey. Again, the numbers aren’t going to jump off the page in terms of raw averages, but watch the tape, and you’ll understand why I gave Buzelis a Second Team nod.
NBA All-Rookie Third Team
Kyshawn George, Washington Wizards
Tristan Da Silva, Orlando Magic
Dalton Knecht, Los Angeles Lakers
Jared McCain, Philadelphia 76ers
Justin Edwards, Philadelphia 76ers
Let’s be honest: the real reason why I had to include an All-Rookie Third Team (as well as third teams for the sophomores and juniors) is because I can never make up my mind and have to include “honorable mentions” anyway! All-NBA is divided into three teams, so why shouldn’t I do the same with the young guys??
That being said, creating another team didn’t exactly make narrowing players down any easier! This rookie class may be lacking the true blue superstars like Victor Wembanyama and soon-to-be Cooper Flagg, but there are a lot of good role players to talk about!
To start, I should just mention Jared McCain, who makes it on here because he would’ve likely ended much higher had he been able to play the entire season. When he was on the court, McCain looked like a no-brainer Rookie of the Year choice, as he was downright spectacular shooting the basketball for the Philadelphia 76ers. His passing and playmaking flashes were what really caught my eye, and are what have raised his ceiling into potential star territory from where many viewed him before the draft. Games played isn’t a QUALIFIER here to be included, but it was a factor in not naming him to one of the two teams ahead despite how phenomenal he was in 23 games for the 76ers.
Another 76er ended up on this team, as Justin Edwards had a magical season given the circumstances leading up to his signing of a two-way contract. Edwards was the top overall freshman recruit in the country last year at Kentucky, but he failed to live up to those expectations. Still, Edwards entered himself into the draft and found his way on a very team-friendly deal, given how well his season ended up. I’ll elaborate more on his performance below, but he was an easy choice on a Third Team for me.
It wouldn’t be an All-Rookie write-up without discussing a considerable portion of the Washington Wizards rotation. Kyshawn George ALMOST ended up on my second team, as he had some awesome performances in the second half of the season despite shooting very poorly to start the year.
As a jumbo wing creator, George has played a point forward role at times for the Wizards, able to bring the ball up the floor and initiate the offense. He’s best when he can make quick decisions as a spot-up shooter or line-drive attacker, but there’s some real stuff to his game as a ball handler that should allow him to develop more in that regard down the line. As a 6’8” defender, George has a real foundation to work with as an on-ball stalwart who can guard multiple positions. His future is as bright as nearly any other rookie in the class.
Tristan Da Silva hasn’t played as consistently of late, but he had quite the stretch as a spot starter for the Orlando Magic while both Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner were out. During the months of November and December, Da Silva shot well from three-point range while also contributing as a secondary creator and reliable finisher on drives at the rim. He’s not a picture-perfect defensive wing, but his understanding and timing on that end, combined with his length, offer him a solid base to at least not be a complete negative.
All season, Da Silva has maintained his status as a connective operator on offense, even when the team has struggled to put the ball in the basket over stretches. His shooting needs to come closer in line to where it was at Colorado, but Da Silva has proven to be a worthwhile bet for the Magic in the first round of the 2024 draft.
Dalton Knecht was another player who had a Rookie of the Year case near the start of the season before McCain’s thunderous announcement of his own candidacy. While Knecht hasn’t been able to make meaningful steps forward as a defender or passer, he’s still been one of the more efficient shooting rookies in the class and has seemingly meshed with whichever combination of teammates the Los Angeles Lakers have put on the floor.
Coach JJ Redick has gotten Knecht involved off screens, and he’s made the most of other corner shooting and transition opportunities. An athletic dunker when he’s had the runway, Knecht has the tools of a valuable role player in today’s NBA, and his overall scoring consistency lands him the last spot on my All-Rookie selections.
Others that I considered included Isaiah Collier, Jonathan Mogbo, Kyle Filipowski, Quinten Post, and Ron Holland.
Both Collier and Filipowski put together decent rookie campaigns, but both had their flaws on a truly tank-tastic Utah Jazz team that kept them off my All-Rookie honors. Collier’s offense, outside of his passing (which was above par for a rookie point guard, having passed John Stockton’s Jazz franchise record for most assists in a debut season), never quite took shape and is something that will need to be evaluated on a larger sample size going into next season. Filipowski’s offense also never quite took hold from an efficiency standpoint, and neither did his defense around the basket. Just like in college, though, his flashes as a defender in space and on switches made for some interesting tape to study heading into next year as a complementary big man.
Post and Mogbo were the two larger snubs off any of my All-Rookie teams. Post ended up taking a starting center spot (before the acquisition of Jimmy Butler) from Trayce Jackson-Davis, one of the more analytically friendly sophomores in the NBA. His ability to space the floor opened up a lot for other Warriors guards and wings, and he proved just how valuable those types of lineups can be around Stephen Curry and Brandin Podziemski.
In Mogbo’s case, his versatility as a defensive chess piece all season off the bench for the Toronto Raptors was one of the more positive wrinkles in a disappointing season for the franchise overall. While Mogbo doesn’t possess a signature offensive skill outside of his transition finishing, he did get to display his ball handling and face-up game at times, while guarding quite the variety of wings, forwards, and even centers and point guards at times for Toronto. Becoming a legitimate spot-up shooter would go a long way for Mogbo to continue to carve out a rotational role past this season.
Last but certainly not least, Ron Holland has had quite the few weeks to march towards the end of the season here. His 26-point performance against the New Orleans Pelicans on March 23rd turned some heads in the NBA community, and all year long, he’s had highlight plays on both ends of the floor as both a rim-rocking finisher and pesky defender.
Holland’s motor never stops, and as the year has gone on he’s shown flashes of improving important swing skills like shooting and ball handling. His jump shot, in particular, looks much more fluid compared to where it was just a year ago with G League Ignite. One of the youngest in the rookie class, Holland is in prime position and near the top of my list for those who could make the most significant leaps as a sophomore next year.
NBA Defensive Rookie of the Year Nominees
Donovan Clingan, Portland Trail Blazers
Alex Sarr, Washington Wizards
Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs
Winner: Donovan Clingan, Portland Trail Blazers
I could’ve chosen a number of rookies for Defensive Rookie of the Year, as there’s more talent on that side of the ball in this class than meets the eye. A number of emerging big men vied for the award, along with talented perimeter players like Stephon Castle, Jaylen Wells, and even Jamal Shead off the bench for the Toronto Raptors.
Ultimately, I went with the player who jumped off the screen to me the most in terms of defensive impact: Donovan Clingan of the Portland Trail Blazers.
Portland’s remarkable turnaround this year was only bested by the Detroit Pistons in terms of increases in win total from prior years. Both franchises have seen the tides shift in their favor, meaning both deserve to have candidates and award winners over the next few weeks. Cade Cunningham is the odds-on favorite as things stand to win the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award, and I’d throw Portland’s Deni Avdija in that same race as well.
In regard to the rookies, Clingan takes the cake as the best defensive player in this class. Per Cleaning the Glass, Portland’s defense is significantly better with Clingan on the floor than off, with a net impact of -4.2 points per 100 possessions. It’s not just that Clingan’s rebounding rates and impact on the glass per 100 possessions are off the charts, though it does help to be able to clean up and end possessions altogether.
Clingan is a true example of a rim deterrent. It’s one thing to act as a shot blocker or weak-side help defender. Opposing ball-handlers, especially guards, have to think twice, however, when trying to challenge Clingan in the paint.
He’s a strong-bodied center who is fundamentally sound when it comes to standing his ground and not giving up easy angles for opposing players to draw fouls or finish through him. Clingan rates in the 94th percentile in terms of opposing field goal percentage at the rim per Synergy Sports. That’s a number you’d expect to see from the likes of Rudy Gobert or Victor Wembanyama.
Clingan’s offense is far from where it needs to be in terms of that of a starting NBA center. His conditioning to play more extended minutes has also been a point of emphasis for steady improvement as the year has gone on. But Clingan was drafted for stability in the post defensively, and he’s lived up to that billing and then some in just his first season in the league.
I mentioned Yves Missi and Zach Edey before as very capable post defenders, and I could’ve gone the route of nominating either of them for this award. Missi’s feet defensively are some of the best I’ve evaluated for a big man. While he’s a bit raw in terms of challenging certain looks and leaving his feet when he shouldn’t, there’s no questioning his upside as not only a drop big or show-and-recover center but as a true switchable five-man is something the New Orleans Pelicans should look to capitalize on in the coming years.
Edey was also good at challenging shots in the paint and deterring drivers, but he wasn’t quite as effective in drop coverage when opposing players got around the initial screen and touched the paint as someone like Clingan. He was rated as “poor” at defending dribble jumpers per Synergy, while Clingan was slightly better in that regard and much better at defending all other shot types on the floor.
I do want to give a shoutout to perimeter defenders in Stephon Castle and Jaylen Wells. Both had to take on truly excruciating assignments at times against the league’s best high-usage wings and forwards. Both of them held their own in different areas, despite having some things to iron out when it comes to ball screen defense. I would anticipate Castle becoming a candidate for All-Defense sooner rather than later in his career, and I’m sure the Memphis Grizzlies are very happy to employ Wells as an emerging two-way wing.
Jonathan Mogbo deserves the last shoutout here for very similar reasons, as his ability to cover ground on the perimeter and also switch to defending in the post was valuable in his minutes this year for the Toronto Raptors.
NBA Most Improved Rookie Nominees
Matas Buzelis, Chicago Bulls
Alex Sarr, Washington Wizards
Justin Edwards, Philadelphia 76ers
Winner: Justin Edwards, Philadelphia 76ers
In the spirit of the award and how I would define most improved, I decided to give this one to Justin Edwards of the Philadelphia 76ers.
From being an undrafted free agent to catapulting into consideration for top rookie honors, that’s a true example of in-season development for the young Philly native.
Edwards wasn’t expected to contribute in a meaningful way this season. The 76ers were seen as title contenders with a veteran-heavy roster before the year started. A significant number of injuries helped Edwards’s cause, but he did his job to earn his minutes and even some starts with Philadelphia.
Among rookies that attempted more than 100 threes on the season, Edwards rates out as the sixth best among that group at 36.6%. Only 26% of his attempts came from the corners, as Edwards was utilized more as an option off a swing pass on the wing or in transition from deep. He wasn’t nearly as efficient on dribble threes as he was off the catch, but Edwards did show signs of better footwork off the bounce from range as the season went on. If he can consistently create his own shot, along with the effort he gave on the glass and defensively, Edwards will have a LONG career in the NBA through multiple contracts as a valuable rotational wing.
One exciting area of opportunity for Edwards in terms of meaningful growth moving forward was in his pick-and-roll game as the ball handler. Albeit low volume, per Synergy, Edwards shot a blistering 63% on attempts out of pick-and-roll offense while also creating looks for others at a high level on a low turnover rate when expanding that play type out to include passes. Edwards only registered 66 total possessions in pick-and-roll, but that’s still an encouraging sign to expanding his game in the offseason. I would expect Edwards to get all that he can handle in Summer League as the Sixers look to evaluate him going into next year.
The other nominees I considered for Most Improved Rookie were Matas Buzelis and Alex Sarr, who are coming off the best months of their career so far. As mentioned above, Buzelis had a number of standout scoring performances in March, while Sarr has finally gotten it together a bit with his jumper and defensive approach. Both players have made much better names for themselves since the start of the season, and had they played at this level from the jump, they would’ve been considered much higher in Rookie of the Year balloting on my end.