During the offseason, the Trail Blazers suffered the departure of their star point guard Damian Lillard. In a three-team trade, Lillard was sent to the Milwaukee Bucks, leaving a void at the point guard position in Portland. However, the team managed to acquire former number one overall pick Deandre Ayton as part of the deal. Despite this, the Blazers still needed a solution at point guard. Fortunately, they drafted Scoot Henderson with the third overall pick in the 2023 draft.
Henderson took a different path than most players, as he did not play in college. Instead, he joined the G League Ignite to prepare for his NBA career. At the age of 20, Henderson has already played in 43 games for the Blazers this season, starting in 16 of them. Head coach Chauncey Billups has expressed his confidence in Henderson, stating that he expects him to start for the remainder of the 2023-24 season.
In a recent game, Henderson started for the first time in over a month. Throughout the season, he has started in 16 out of the 43 games he has played. Henderson’s career began with five consecutive starts, but he was sidelined for nine games due to an ankle injury. Following his return, Coach Billups mainly used Henderson as a bench player. However, in their final game before the all-star break against the Timberwolves, Henderson was given the opportunity to start once again.
In his latest start, Henderson showcased his skills with 15 points, 4 assists, and a steal. Over the past seven games, he has been averaging 16.3 points and 5.1 assists per game. Despite his impressive performances, Henderson still needs to improve his shooting efficiency. Standing at six-foot-three, he possesses explosive athleticism and can attack the rim effectively. However, his field-goal percentage of .375 hinders his ability to consistently score over 20 points per game. Nonetheless, Henderson’s strong performances have earned him the starting role at point guard for the Trail Blazers.
Head coach Chauncey Billups believes that Henderson has earned the right to be the team’s starting point guard. He did not simply hand Henderson the role; it was something the rookie had to earn through his hard work and dedication. Billups is pleased with Henderson’s development and his willingness to learn and grow as a player. These positive signs bode well for the 20-year-old as he takes on the starting role in the second half of the season. With a record of 15-39, it is unlikely that the Blazers will make the playoffs in the 2023-24 season. However, this year serves as a valuable learning experience for Henderson and the rest of the young team.
According to the Source sportslens.com