Will Rockets' Rookie Cam Whitmore Play Quality Minutes?
Houston Rockets forward Cam Whitmore was selected with the 20th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, despite being labeled as a top-10 prospect. He fell in the draft due to medical concerns.
Whitmore's first attempt to prove every NBA team that passed on him wrong was in the Summer League... and he didn't disappoint.
Whitmore averaged 19.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and a stellar 2.5 steals in the Summer League, winning MVP honors. The 19-year-old was the leading factor in the Rockets' run to the Summer League championship.
Whitmore isn't expected to start as the Rockets' offseason signee Dillon Brooks has the starting small forward spot practically locked up. Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman believes Whitmore will play each game and take advantage every minute he's out there.
"Cam Whitmore should receive minutes off the bench playing to his strengths as an athletic finisher, threatening spot-up shooter and physical, straight-line driver," Wasserman said.
However, Wasserman believes Whitmore will be far from the sixth-man role.
"Whitmore should play exclusively off the ball as a rookie," Wasserman said. "He won't receive many creation reps, as he struggled last year making reads off the dribble, and Kevin Porter Jr., Amen Thompson and Tari Eason will rank higher in the Rockets' second-unit pecking order."
With that being said, Whitmore has shown he's capable of advancing in a lineup throughout a season.
Whitmore didn't play college basketball for Villanova until Dec. 3 due to a thumb injury. Whitmore more than made up for his time off the court, averaging 12.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals. He'd earn Big East Rookie of the Year honors for his efforts.
Kyle Neptune, Whitmore's coach at Villanova, thinks the rookie will quickly adapt to the NBA and rise up once again.
"I really feel like Cam Whitmore is made for the NBA and his game is gonna translate better," Neptune said. "I thought he did a great job at Villanova and now I feel like he's ready to take off. I think people will be very surprised at what he's capable of."
You can follow Hunter De Siver on Twitter @HunterDeSiver.
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