NBA Rookies: Scoot Henderson Establishing his Pace in December
Before the 2023 NBA Draft, the discourse surrounding the top three picks was fairly linear — at least for the No. 1 pick, which would end up being Victor Wembanyama, who was and is still regarded as a potential generational talent.
The next two picks were not so clear-cut — some believed the G League Ignite's Scoot Henderson was a no-brainer in the second slot, while others interjected to say it was Alabama's Brandon Miller.
Some felt the Charlotte Hornets should draft the best available player with the No. 2 pick, and some would rather have picked the prospect who best fit the team's mold.
At the time, Henderson was primarily regarded as the "better" player, but his fit alongside an established LaMelo Ball may not have been the most conducive to team success compared to the other option — subsequently, Charlotte eventually selected Miller with second overall pick.
This let Henderson fall to the hands of the Portland Trail Blazers, as the 6-foot-3, athletically-gifted guard was given big play time to start the season, averaging 28.4 minutes and starting in each of their initial five games.
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Now, harping back on the draft, the order of the first three picks may seem justified.
As after those first five contests, Henderson suffered a right ankle sprain, sidelining him for three weeks — and following his Nov. 22 return, he has not yet returned to the starting lineup, nearly all the way through the month of December.
It made sense to wade him back into the starting lineup by easing him into some play time off the bench. But now, it seems Portland and head coach Chauncey Billups are counting upon Henderson's bench production, as the Trail Blazers sit in the bottom half of bench scoring in the association.
He's been thriving in his bench role too, especially in December — scoring more efficiently and producing at a higher level while limiting his turnover rate and remaining a necessary facilitator.
Averaging just under five more points than the two months prior with 13.0 per game, an improved 39.2% from the field and a drastic increase to his free throw percentage — Henderson has found his groove within the second unit this month despite only winning one game thus far out of 10 played in December.
There's still much more to be proven from the highly touted, playmaking guard for the Trail Blazers, but it's a slow race, and he's steadily improving.
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