INDIANAPOLIS — “My mindset is to return out and hoop and simply be myself.”
That was Portland Path Blazers rookie Scoot Henderson, hours earlier than the NBA’s Rising Stars Problem. He got here out, hooped and scored 10 factors in a 40-35 loss to open the night’s four-team mini event. It was a microcosm of what has been a quiet rookie marketing campaign for Henderson, once more overshadowed by friends.
In a sea of Tyrese Haliburton shirts on the streets of snowy Indianapolis have been just a few jerseys bearing Victor Wembanyama’s No. 1 — to match his choice within the 2023 NBA draft. His Rookie of the Yr race in opposition to Chet Holmgren has dominated the dialogue of first-year gamers, they usually have been Friday’s important attraction.
The current rise of Brandon Miller has pushed Henderson additional down the rookie rankings, someplace behind fellow first-round picks Jaime Jaquez Jr., Dereck Vigorous II, Keyonte George and Brandin Podziemski.
Requested in regards to the success of different members from this 12 months’s rookie class, Henderson stated, “I prefer it. I am at all times going to point out love. I am by no means going to hit on anyone, whether or not I feel they’re kind of. I simply attempt to present love again and acknowledge we’re all on this collectively. To see everyone else’s development is enjoyable.”
They have been all gathered right here, opening the All-Star Weekend festivities, the one present on the town for one evening. And there was Henderson, offered one other alternative to not solely show he belonged on this stage, however to reestablish himself as an elite member of this Class of 2024 — to return out and hoop and simply be … Scoot.
Friday was not Henderson’s popping out social gathering, however he believes he’s inching nearer to that arrival.
“I feel most of it’s little issues,” he instructed Yahoo Sports activities, “persevering with to grasp the sport, sure conditions — the entire recreation. As some extent guard, you have to watch the entire recreation. I’ve bought to verify the large fella is sweet. Simply little issues like that, I feel, that’ll make me an important level guard on this league.”
There was a time when Henderson was unquestionably the highest American prospect within the draft. Solely Wembanyama and Miller have been taken forward of Henderson, and the Blazers have been assured sufficient within the choice that they traded franchise icon Damian Lillard to make room for the purpose guard of their future. Henderson is constructed to be a hooper — a 6-foot-3, 200-pound brick of a younger man, explosive and inventive.
But his rookie marketing campaign has been something however a logical subsequent development. Henderson left highschool earlier than his senior 12 months to develop into the youngest-ever member of the G League at age 17. He spent two seasons on the Ignite, showing within the Rising Stars Problem annually. This, his third look, was imagined to be a showcase for what improvement seems like in lieu of school, below the NBA umbrella.
And there have been indicators on Friday of what ought to come. A easy midrange jumper. A pull-up 3. A lefty finger roll over Walker Kessler. A step-back hesitation dribble drive below Holmgren, right into a circus layup (and one).
He is within the movie room early, grinding tape with Portland assistants Pooh Jeter and Scott Brooks, and within the health club late, getting pictures up with rookie teammate Rayan Rupert. Besides, there’s been nothing linear about his progress. Henderson badly sprained his proper ankle 5 video games into the season, missed three weeks and misplaced his beginning job to veteran Malcolm Brogdon. At Christmas, Henderson was averaging 10.8 factors (on 37/25/78 taking pictures splits), 4.1 assists in opposition to 3.1 turnovers and a pair of.7 rebounds in 26.1 minutes per recreation.
This was not the work of a doubtlessly transformative ground normal. Perhaps this was to be anticipated from a first-year playmaker for a staff constructed to lose. Maybe our expectations have been too nice for having seen him on this Rising Stars stage twice earlier than. Regardless of the purpose, Henderson has not seized stardom … but.
So, who, precisely, has ensured Henderson nonetheless believes in his skill to get there?
“S***,” he instructed Yahoo Sports activities, “my rattling self. Figuring out pictures aren’t falling and understanding easy methods to make them go in — that is method, and that is getting again to how I practice at residence. Mentally, I simply ensure that I am at all times locked in — studying books, somewhat than enjoying a recreation all day. Issues like that basically simply maintain me locked in to a tee. That confidence comes from me understanding that I’m who I’m, and I am nonetheless a canine.”
Earlier Friday, Henderson known as Allen Iverson the participant from the previous he’d most prefer to have performed with, and his “Welcome to the NBA” second got here reverse Russell Westbrook, one other mannequin for his recreation.
“They whooped us,” Henderson stated of a 123-111 loss to Westbrook’s Los Angeles Clippers on the opening evening of their season, “and I used to be like, ‘All proper, I am right here now, so let’s flip it up a notch.'”
Effectivity did not come so fast for Iverson or Westbrook, both. It takes time, particularly for younger level guards, and no one is aware of that higher than Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, who performed for 5 completely different groups earlier than he developed into an All-Star — and potential future Corridor of Famer — at age 29.
“Having Chauncey as a coach and a mentor, he tells me I can go to him every time,” Henderson instructed Yahoo Sports activities. “Having that on my aspect, having him as a head coach, it means rather a lot, as a result of I can belief him. I can belief the data he is giving me. I can belief the place he is coming from, as a result of he instructed me he was me.”
Even when it means Billups could be slightly more durable on him than he’s on gamers at different positions.
“I take laborious teaching very nicely,” added Henderson, two weeks faraway from his twentieth birthday. “Once I was rising up, my dad was actually laborious on me. He taught me classes, and I am glad I went by issues after I was youthful, somewhat than studying them now. I had Coach [Jason] Hart final 12 months, and he isn’t straightforward to be coached by. Chauncey is teaching me laborious, however it’s extra info somewhat than simply pounding on me.”
Henderson is absorbing that info. The outcomes are starting to point out. Since Christmas, he’s averaging 18.9 factors (on 35.4% taking pictures from distance), 6.7 assists and 4.1 rebounds per 36 minutes. He simply earned the beginning job again, Billups declared on Thursday, even when Brogdon returns from damage.
The mixture of all of it — the pedigree, the physique, the boldness and (slowly) the outcomes — are sufficient for Henderson to imagine that the following time he makes his strategy to All-Star Weekend, it will likely be to play on Sunday.
“I feel that is simply going to return with time and the method,” Henderson instructed Yahoo Sports activities. “It is in God’s fingers. All I can do is put within the work and belief the person above, so that is what I will maintain doing.”
