The NBA community witnessed some serious talents enter the league this year. At the 2023 NBA Draft, French sensation Victor Wembanyama came out on top, and Alabama fame Brandon Miller came in as 2nd pick. But Scoot Henderson is a prodigy that the world can’t and shouldn’t ignore.
The Portland Trail Blazers analyzed Scoot’s strengths carefully before drafting him. He is certainly a player any franchise would be happy to build a team around. The initial idea was to line up Henderson alongside Blazers veteran Damian Lillard.
But things have taken a turn in the last few days, and Dame has requested to leave Portland. That means Scoot could be the face of the franchise, something he’s ready to embrace as well.
The young hotshot has hit a bump in the road while playing in the Summer League. He was making his debut for the Blazers, and things couldn’t have gone worse for the Georgina-born player.
Scoot Henderson could have dislocated his shoulder during a Summer League game
Henderson made his debut against the Houston Rockets, a game in which the Texas-based franchise took the win by one point (100-99). The 19-year-old had a promising time on the court, making 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists on the night.
Scoot’s Summer League debut:
15 PTS
5 REB
6 ASTEarly exit due to an injury. pic.twitter.com/pW1s5Mrh7M
— StatMuse (@statmuse) July 8, 2023
But after just 21 minutes, he suffered a shoulder injury and was forced to leave the game early. He did not return to the court, and reports mentioned that he would be receiving an MRI.
There is also reportedly a chance that Scoot has dislocated his shoulder. It is still unclear what the results of the scan are. His presence for the Blazers’ next Summer League game against the Charlotte Hornets and Orlando Magic remains a question.
Scoot Henderson on his shoulder injury and his initial thoughts from his first Summer League game: pic.twitter.com/ggVTj9Jmlk
— Danny Marang (@DannyMarang) July 8, 2023
After the game, the media asked Scoot what his thoughts were about his first game and how he felt after suffering the injury. He mentioned that his shoulder was getting better and that he knew which areas he could improve on. The way Henderson approaches his game speaks at length about the type of player he is.
He isn’t fairly tall for a guard, standing at 6’2. But Scoot surely makes up for it with his sheer strength and athleticism on the court. His versatility makes him dangerous on the court, as he’s able to drive to the rim and make passes for his teammates. To add to that, Scoot has also been training with legendary sharpshooter Stephen Curry, who could surely help him with shooting from deep as well.