As a lot as Hawks followers might not wish to hear it, Stephon Fort is all however a lock for Rookie of the 12 months at this level. In a subject the place it appeared prefer it was virtually anybody’s to seize as a result of the 2024 draft class lacked any gamers who have been a transparent minimize above the remaining, Fort has managed to separate himself from the pack.
Even with high general choose Zaccharie Risacher getting scorching in direction of the top of the season, Fort has managed to stave off his advances by having a stellar months final couple of months himself. After averaging 19.5 factors, 4.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists in March, he has managed to go to one more degree in April with 19.2/7.2/7.3 splits whereas simply barely lacking on two straight triple-doubles final week. For reference Luka Doncic is the one rookie to ever common a minimum of 18/8/7 within the month of April. He additionally joins Doncic, James Harden and Giannis Antetokounmpo as the one gamers who’ve totaled a minimum of 300 factors, 95 assists and 85 rebounds within the final 15 video games.
All of this may increasingly look like small pattern dimension stuff, but it surely has actually mattered for Fort, a minimum of so far as the Rookie of the 12 months race is worried. It’s additionally an indication that he’s a participant who can flip issues up because the playoffs strategy: one thing the Spurs will want sooner or later as soon as these March/April video games begin mattering once more, which needs to be as quickly as subsequent season.
Nonetheless, if you happen to don’t like small pattern sizes, here’s a broader view. Having surpassed 1000 factors, 250 rebounds, 250 assists and 70 steals for the season, he as soon as once more joins elite firm with Doncic, Trae Younger, and Cade Cunningham being the final three rookie guards to perform these numbers. All three are All-Stars (and it’s protected to imagine Cunningham will quickly be part of Doncic and Younger as multi-time All-Stars).
With simply two video games left within the season for the Spurs, it’s protected to imagine Fort’s general averages of 14.6/3.6/4 will keep roughly the identical. Whereas some will argue it’s removed from essentially the most spectacular stat line for a ROY and that Fort’s taking pictures wants a number of work (each of that are true), Zach Lowe and Kirk Goldsberry of The Ringer just lately mentioned it’s not simply in regards to the stats or dunks with Fort: it’s the intangibles.
Fort might generally look like of the quiet, lead-by-example ilk, much like Tim Duncan and Kawhi Leonard, however as Goldsberry talked about, he does in reality have voice and presence within the Spurs’ locker room. After Wednesday’s win over Warriors, Chris Paul readily admitted he advised Mitch Johnson to let the group that was on the market shut the sport and advised Fort to go on the market and assist make them victory, which he did.
The Spurs at the moment are taking a look at having two straight Rookies of the 12 months, and a younger core that includes Fort and Victor Wembanyama is wanting much more promising by the day. Hopefully everybody stays wholesome subsequent season, and together with the addition of De’Aaron Fox, this younger crew lastly places the whole lot collectively and makes the playoffs to finish their 7-year drought. The West is all of the sudden ripe for rising the ranks with a lot uncertainty for groups just like the Mavs, Grizzlies, Suns and presumably even the Nuggets, so barring one other well being catastrophe like this season, the Spurs may have zero excuses going ahead.
