Photo: San Antonio Spurs/X

The NBA has officially unveiled the 2024–25 All-Rookie First and Second Teams, highlighting ten of the league’s most promising young players who made immediate impacts in their debut seasons.

The results were determined by a panel of 100 media members, who assigned two points for each First Team vote and one point for each Second Team selection.

All-Rookie First Team

  • Stephon Castle, Spurs – 200 points (unanimous selection)
  • Zaccharie Risacher, Hawks – 199 points
  • Jaylen Wells, Grizzlies – 195 points
  • Zach Edey, Grizzlies – 173 points
  • Alex Sarr, Wizards – 150 points

There were no surprises on the First Team. Spurs guard Stephon Castle, this season’s Rookie of the Year, was the only unanimous First Team selection, earning votes from all 100 panelists.

Castle was joined by fellow top-two draft picks Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr, both of whom exceeded expectations with early production and steady growth throughout the year.

Grizzlies rookies Jaylen Wells and Zach Edey rounded out the group, each playing pivotal roles in Memphis’ rotation. Edey’s interior presence and rebounding translated to the NBA quicker than expected, while Wells’ two-way impact made him one of the league’s most consistent rookie contributors.

All-Rookie Second Team

  • Kel’el Ware, Heat – 138 points
  • Matas Buzelis, Bulls – 97 points
  • Yves Missi, Pelicans – 90 points
  • Donovan Clingan, Trail Blazers – 73 points
  • Bub Carrington, Wizards – 53 points

The Second Team was center-heavy, with big men dominating the ballot. Kel’el Ware and Matas Buzelis, who finished sixth and seventh, respectively, in Rookie of the Year voting, led this group. Missi, Clingan, and Carrington emerged as reliable team starters and demonstrated substantial development throughout the season.

Carrington, notably, earned his spot in a narrow race over Jazz guard Isaiah Collier. While Collier appeared on more total ballots, Carrington received three First Team votes, giving him the edge in total points (53 to Collier’s 52).

Close Calls and Notable Mentions

A total of 23 different rookies received at least one vote, illustrating the depth of the 2024 draft class. If the NBA followed the All-NBA format and named a Third Team, the next five players in voting would have been:

  • Isaiah Collier, Jazz – 52 points
  • Kyle Filipowski, Jazz
  • Ron Holland, Pistons
  • Dalton Knecht, Lakers
  • Ryan Dunn, Suns

No 65-Game Requirement

Unlike the All-NBA or MVP races, All-Rookie voting does not require players to meet the 65-game threshold or minimum minutes-played rule introduced this season. Several honorees – including Risacher, Edey, Ware, Buzelis, and Clingan – would have been ineligible if the same rules applied.

This exception allows voters to reward flashes of brilliance and long-term potential even in shortened campaigns, especially for younger players still adjusting to the league’s physical toll.

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