'Time To Get To Work': Rockets, Cam Whitmore Left Unfazed By Draft Night Slide
HOUSTON — The wait for Cam Whitmore during the 2023 NBA Draft took longer than expected. Whitmore was a projected top-10 pick. But Thursday night inside the Barclays Center, Whitmore was the 20th selection made by the Houston Rockets.
He was the Rockets' second and final pick in the first round. Houston drafted Overtime Elite's Amen Thompson at No. 4.
"Every time it kept counting down, just didn't know where to go," Whitmore said. "I was praying. I was really talking to God the whole entire time, for real. It is what it is. I was in Houston training. So it's time to go back."
Whitmore did not understand how he slipped outside the lottery. But as he sat in the Green Room pondering, Whitmore's stock left general manager Rafael Stone in shock.
He gave an impressive pre-draft workout, and Stone said the results left the Rockets considering trading up from No. 20. The Athletic reported that Houston tried to move up as far as the 10th pick Wednesday morning, which was originally held by the Dallas Mavericks.
"We were actually really active in this draft, it just didn't result in anything," Stone said. "Mainly because Cam was dropping and [we wanted him] and we got him."
No team ever disputed Whitmore's talents. He came into the draft as one of the best wingmen of his class as a player who averaged 12.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 26 games at Villanova.
But Whitmore's injury history became the reason behind his diminished draft stock. The 18-year-old forward sustained several injuries during the 2022-23 college basketball season. Whitmore broke his thumb during a pre-season practice that sidelined him for seven games.
His most significant injury came as a high school freshman when he suffered a broken tibia. Stone said Whitmore took a physical at the NBA Combine in Chicago. And after going over his medical records, the Rockets felt "very comfortable" with their selection.
"I think he is well positioned to have a really good career," Stone said. "When he came in for an interview, he talked about how much he loved the city. I enjoyed my conversations with Cam. I think this is a really good fit. We are really excited to have him."
Whitmore said he feels fine and doesn't understand where the concern about his injury history came from. But he did not allow the prolonged wait to ruin his draft night experience.
He left the Barclays Center unfazed by the number of teams that passed on his services and described the draft as "the best day" of his life.
The Rockets are giving him a chance to achieve a lifetime dream of playing in the NBA, which is all he ever wanted. The feeling of being overlooked isn't new to Whitmore, but the results of the draft have motivated the soon-to-be rookie prospect.
"It's just something where I've got to rethink, go in the next day, new mind, free mind," Whitmore said. "I know I'm different than everybody else, but it's just another chapter in my life, another step in the journey. Time to get to work... I'm just ready to be a Rocket."
You can follow Coty M. Davis on Twitter at @CotyDavis_24
Want the latest in news and insider information on the Houston Rockets? Click here
Follow Inside the Rockets on Facebook here
Follow Inside the Rockets on Twitter @InsideRocketsFN
Want even more Houston Rockets news? Check out the SI.com team page here
