Because the NBA and the Spurs work via the stretch-run and one other season attracts nearer to the end line, the dialogue round awards has naturally began to seek out its kindling. Sadly, with Victor Wembanyama not reaching the 65-game threshold on account of his deep vein thrombosis, this award season will likely be much less eventful than Spurs followers initially hoped. Nonetheless, there’s a brilliant spot that many noticed alongside the horizon on the daybreak of the season, Stephon Citadel.
Citadel is now the overwhelming favourite for Rookie of the Yr honors. Sequential Rookie of the Yr winners from the identical franchise are extraordinarily uncommon. The phenomenon has occurred solely as soon as within the trendy period — Andrew Wiggins (2015) and Karl Anthony-Cities (2016) of the Minnesota Timberwolves — and 4 different occasions in NBA and ABA historical past, two of which have been assisted by the power for winners to tie.
Whereas Rookie of the Yr is a excessive honor, it doesn’t at all times assure the place a participant will go from there, as there are a number of various paths winners have discovered themselves taking. For some gamers, they could finish being little greater than a glorified function participant. For others, comparable to Wembanyama, it’s the trail to superstardom that was already set in stone. For Citadel, it’s much less clear.
his offensive sport, there isn’t one particular side that jumps out, though there have been flashes. His passing and flooring command has definitely began to point out polish, as was on show along with his 14 assists in a current win over the 76ers. His scoring has began to come back alongside as effectively, leaping from 12.9 factors per sport pre-All-Star to 17.4 post-All-Star.
That is little question partially as a result of further alternative offered as fellow guard De’Aaron Fox’s season ended early on account of finger surgical procedure. This has resulted in a rise in Citadel’s utilization from 23.5 to twenty-eight.1 p.c from pre to post-All-Star, per NBA.com. General, he has the best utilization of any rookie that has performed at the very least 10 video games. Atlanta’s Zaccharie Risacher comes closest with 19.8 p.c.
Nonetheless, extra alternative doesn’t at all times equal extra productiveness. At solely 20 years previous, it might not have been stunning to see him stoop as extra weight was placed on his shoulders, however as a substitute, he has thrived. It’s very encouraging that he has discovered a solution to not solely maintain the obligations, however proceed to develop as a participant. He’s stepped as much as the place the group wants him.
And that circles again to the preliminary query about what sort of participant Citadel may ultimately be. Popping out of UConn, essentially the most notable points of his sport have been his protection and his group’s Nationwide Championship win. Each confirmed his tenacity, and his skill to contribute to successful. This 12 months has been no totally different.
Attempting to seize this with superior statistics, Dunksandthrees.com has the metric of estimated plus/minus or EPM. At present, Citadel is at -1.5 sitting, slightly below the league common. To place that into context, it’s a robust quantity for a rookie. Excluding Wembanyama’s ridiculous +3.0, earlier Rookie of the Yr winners completed their seasons inside -1.2 to +0.1.
Wanting across the league and looking for comparability, one former Spur jumps out: Derrick White. As Spurs followers know, White had a a lot totally different path to the NBA than Citadel. Nonetheless, in the event you increase every part Citadel does to the subsequent degree, White is the outcome. He was a robust participant for San Antonio however has since gone on to be an integral a part of a championship group in Boston. He’s invaluable in what he contributes, whether or not that be protection, taking pictures, passing, or attending to the basket.
By way of EPM, White is a +3.2, ninety fifth percentile of the league. He isn’t a famous person, however he excels in his function at an irreplaceable degree. On a group with two stars, Citadel may very effectively match into that slot for the Spurs. That is particularly useful additional down the street. Come playoff time, groups want gamers to step up and fill within the gaps. Each sequence is totally different, and having a participant that may be in all places turns into almost irreplaceable.
To this point, Citadel is discovering that path. What’s extra, this fashion not solely suits throughout the roster round him, however throughout the Spurs philosophy. Rookie of the Yr or not, he was the right choose for the Spurs.
