Portland Trail Blazers’ Scoot Henderson says he will win the Rookie of the Year award. Can he?
If there’s one thing that the Blazers’ Draft pick doesn’t lack, it’s confidence. Indeed, he’s made it clear that he’s going to be the Rookie of the Year.
Though there are two 7-footers standing in his way, it would appear that the G League product isn’t phased in the least as he prepares to begin his career in the NBA. Truth be told, it would be hard to argue against him making waves in the league after a stellar performance in his last season before being selected by the Portland Trail Blazers.
Scoot Henderson hasn’t come to play around
Though he was selected with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers, Scoot Henderson has made it clear that he’s come to the NBA to take names. Indeed, Henderson appeared to lay down a marker during an interview on Monday when he basically guaranteed that he will win the Rookie of the Year award, before stating that his aim is to become the “best point guard to ever play in the game.”
While that may seem like a lot of bravado, or even a case of ‘we’ve heard that before’, the truth is that Henderson has been one of the names on the lips of analysts since he joined the G League Ignight right out of high school in 2021. Needless to say, his success on the professional scene has only served to fan the flames of anticipation even more. “My goal, obviously, is to win Rookie of the Year, and I will win Rookie of the Year,” Henderson said prior to explaining his approach to the game and why he’s so confident. “That’s just a mindset, a manifestation that I kind of grew,” Henderson said. “Never doubted myself, you know, making sure I’m always putting good energy in the air, making sure I’m telling myself ‘I’m gonna have a great rookie season.’ I’m not saying I want to have a great rookie season, I’m gonna have a great rookie season. I’m gonna have a great career. I will have a great career and making sure that’s always in just past tense because it happened.”
There is a 7-foot plus obstacle in Scoot Henderson’s way
Though there were some who put him at No. 1, Henderson ultimately fell behind Alabama’s Brandon Miller who went at No. 2 and of course the French sensation who went at No. 1, Victor Wembanyama. To be clear, Wembanyama is the favorite to take Rookie of the Year and for obvious reasons. Standing at 7′4′, with the handle of a point guard, and the long range accuracy of one of the league’s sharp shooters, the 19-year-old Frenchman is perhaps a generational talent, and that’s before we talk about what he represents on defense. Mention should also be made of Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren who is almost identical in stature and attributes, but unfortunately, was forced to miss the entirety of last season - his first - after he tore ligaments in his ankle. That’s to say it will be more about how he can reacclimitize after such a long time out.
This brings us back to Henderson, who at this point may have to contend with factors that are beyond his control, such as the possible trade of Blazers icon and playmaker, Damian Lillard. If it should come to pass that the Blazers do in fact trade their star, then it stands to reason that Henderson will be the man tasked with leading the team into a new era, something he seems primed to do when considering how few injuries he’s sustained in his career so far. Ultimately, the Blazers’ rookie will have his work cut out for him where the league and the challenge from Wenbanyama are concerned. On the other hand, something tells us that he doesn’t mind working hard.