The Houston Rockets are preparing to be without one of their key rotation players for some time. According to head coach Ime Udoka, rookie wing Cam Whitmore will miss around three weeks due to a right knee injury:
“He has a sprained (lateral collateral ligament), the ligament in the knee and outside the knee,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. “So, it’s a three-week timetable as well. Felt some tightness in his knee in the game. Got that checked out. Kind of played through that. We’ll wee how he progresses with rehab and treatment, as well. They say three weeks, but it could be a shorter timetable based on how he reacts to it.”
This news comes just one day after reports surfaced that budding star Alperen Sengun would likely miss the rest of the regular season. Although it is not official yet, the Rockets only have 17 games remaining on the schedule. With the NBA season in just about a month, there is a chance Whitmore’s season will also end prematurely.
Houston Rockets Wing Likely to Miss “Approximately Three Weeks”
Cam Whitmore’s Season
The Rockets drafted Whitmore with the 20th pick in the first round during last year’s draft. This season, Whitmore has been a steady role player for the team, playing in 37 games and starting one. In those games, Whitmore is averaging 12.1 points and 3.9 rebounds on 46.4 FG% per game. Although he played just spotty minutes to begin the season, Whitmore has become a mainstay in the Rockets’ rotation in the last few months. The 19-year-old has showcased excellent offensive skills and is a solid bucket-getter for the team. Last week, Udoka spoke about Whitmore’s game and his impact on the team:
What he does and his skillset translates to the NBA immediately — size, athleticism, scoring mentality and all that stuff he does offensively translates immediately. Shoots the ball well, attacks. Defensively is where he had the biggest area to catch up and that is some of the progress that he’s made.
Whitmore played behind Dillon Brooks and had a solid bench tandem with fellow rookie Amen Thompson.
What a stat here from Cam Whitmore… pic.twitter.com/MF5TLpRjuH
— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA) March 9, 2024
How Cam Whitmore’s Injury Impacts the Rockets
The Rockets are currently 30-35 and own the No. 11 seed in the Western Conference. Sitting 4.5 games behind the Golden State Warriors for the last Play-In spot, it already seemed unlikely the Rockets would advance to the postseason. Pair this with Sengun and Whitmore missing extensive time, the Rockets’ postseason aspirations are like a pipedream. Still, there is about a month of basketball left to play, and the Rockets must fill Whimore’s absence somehow.
What seems most likely is the Rockets will rely more heavily on Brooks, Thompson, and Jalen Green. Furthermore, another name to keep an eye on is Jae’Sean Tate. Tate is another solid wing option currently rostered. Although his minutes have been inconsistent due to the guys ahead of him on the depth chart, he is a good fit for the team. As it is, it will likely take a group effort to make up for Whitmore’s absence.
