San Antonio Spurs goalkeeper Stephon Citadel (5) led the Phoenix Suns striker Ryan Dunn, within the second half of a Basketball match on the NBA on Friday April 11, 2025, in Phoenix. (Photograph / rick scuteri) Supply: publish
San Antonio goalkeeper Stephon Citadel crossed all the things within the first 12 months of his NBA profession. He entered and out of the Spurs’ beginning vary. He requested Gregg Popovich to coach him for under 5 video games. He performed a lot of the second half of the season with out Victor Wembanyama.
It was a curler coaster. And he believes that every one this – good and evil – made it higher.
Citadel’s recruit season ends on Sunday when the Spurs welcome Toronto. He’s the favourite to win the prize for the recruit of the 12 months, in keeping with BETMGM Sportsbook, and the previous UCONN goalkeeper – the MVP of the Rising Stars occasion this 12 months for first and second 12 months gamers of the Stars Weekend – doesn’t deny that he considered what this trophy might imply.
“It could imply so much,” mentioned Citadel in an interview with the Related Press. “I imply, it was definitely certainly one of my targets, I can’t say that I performed for this each match, however after I arrived within the season, I undoubtedly had my eyes on it. So, to be so shut, I can say that it might imply so much.”
It could additionally imply historical past for Spurs. Wembanyama was the unanimous winner final 12 months, and if Citadel received this 12 months, he would mark the second time along with half a century, a franchise went consecutive with the higher honor. Andrew Wiggins from Minnesota (now from Miami) and Karl-Anthony Cities (now from New York) have been voted respectively recruits of the 12 months in 2015 and 2016.
The final case of a crew going to the again earlier than that: 1973 and 1974, when Bob McAdoo and Ernie Digregio succeeded for the Buffalo Braves.
“The factor about Steph who comes out, respectfully from all the opposite recruits, is (that) I have no idea that there’s somebody who was invited to make the number of roles and duties, and the way in which he managed it,” mentioned head coach appearing, Mitch Johnson, who took over when Popovich had a stroke initially of November. “He is ready to obtain sufficient to be honored as a recruit of the month greater than as soon as mentioned a very long time.”
Citadel is among the two gamers to be recruited of the month twice this season; Zaccharie Risacher of Atlanta is the opposite. Risacher will certainly obtain some consideration for the Prime-Rookie Prize, like Alex Sarr de Will Washington, the teammates of Memphis Zach Edey and Jaylen Wells, Kel’el Ware by Miami and others.
Taking Jared McCain of Philadelphia – whose season ended after 23 video games – and his common of 15.3 factors per match of the combination, Citadel leads all of the recruits by scoring 14.6 per match. Citadel additionally leads all recruits with 10 video games of no less than 15 factors, 5 rebounds and 5 assists this season, acquiring six of them on the final month solely.
And having a 20-year-old veteran like Chris Paul there to show him all the things and all that considerations custody within the NBA was definitely one other benefit for Citadel within the first 12 months.
“I be taught to handle the video games and I don’t all the time spend totally athletics, power and pace,” mentioned Citadel. “You must discover different methods to thwart the opponent, merely play extra intelligently to present you a bonus to win matches. I’ve the impression that the NBA is extra psychological than bodily. That is why you see a lot of the smartest gamers within the League are among the many greatest gamers.”
Spurs work below the idea that Wembanyama – which was excluded for the remainder of the season after deep venous thrombosis was present in certainly one of his shoulders in February – will likely be again subsequent season.
Citadel already thinks that it might be for Spurs to have consecutive recruits of the 12 months on the sector if this occurs.
“I feel it talks about our future very effectively,” mentioned Citadel.
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