Scoot Henderson was among the most exciting prospects ahead of the 2023 NBA Draft. He has often struggled though in the NBA, as evidenced by the Scoot stats. This has led to people calling him the new Blazers bust, especially with his prominence in the Portland rebuild.
Is Scoot Henderson the Latest Portland Trail Blazers Bust?
The Portland Trail Blazers have always found a way to be competitive despite some hurdles. They have always built through the NBA Draft with their star players. That happened with Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge and a few years later with Damian Lillard.
After Lillard requested a trade, they went back to the drawing board with the draft. They selected Shaedon Sharpe in 2022, and they doubled down on the future by picking Henderson. Unfortunately, looking into the Scoot stats shows a bleak outlook for the Portland rebuild. This deserves a deeper dive because he was a top prospect for numerous reasons.
The Negatives of Scoot’s Career So Far
When people have a peek at Scoot’s performances, inefficiency always stands out. Across 81 career games, Henderson has averaged 13.3 points per game on 38.8% from the field and 31.6% from three. His playmaking stats are promising at 5.3 assists per game, but 3.3 turnovers are still alarming.
Before the 2023 NBA Draft, the scouting report was Henderson being a hyper-athletic guard with an excellent feel for the game. Some even called him a generational prospect because of his natural talent. Henderson became the focal point of the Portland rebuild. He has failed to make a significant mark for Portland, leading to people calling him the latest Blazers bust.
Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups has not given him the full-time starting point guard role. Anfernee Simons has maintained his grip on the spot because he makes more of an impact on offense. Of course, Simons is the elder player and has a big contract, so expectations are for him to play. However, that has taken away opportunities from the 2023 NBA Draft’s third-overall pick.
Scoot Henderson is in his age-20 season. I think it's a little early to give up on him, BUT…
Among the 266 three-point-era players with 1,000+ minutes through their age-20 campaigns, Henderson is 259th in box plus/minus to that point in their careers. https://t.co/9sVg64Fmfu pic.twitter.com/fsrZzc50Cg
— Andy Bailey (@AndrewDBailey) December 16, 2024
Scoot is Still Developing at 20 Years Old
People need to realize that Henderson is only 20 years old. It is not unusual for young point guards to struggle when they enter the NBA. This was evident with players like Darius Garland, De’Aaron Fox, and many more.
The context of Simons playing in front of Henderson is a big part of his struggles. Henderson’s potential shone through in the second half of his rookie season. That was when Simons struggled with injuries, so Henderson took up the starting point guard role.
According to StatMuse, Scoot has averaged 14.3 points and 6.4 assists in 28 games without the older guard. Of course, the efficiency is still alarming, but that comes with natural development in the NBA. Henderson has good shot mechanics, especially in the mid-range area. If he puts in the work, his three-point shot will follow.
The natural playmaking ability also shines through for Henderson. Pairing him with good pick-and-roll centers has worked out well for him. Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams III are positive partners for him. DeAndre Ayton is a hit-or-miss, but it could not be denied that Henderson has immense potential in this area.
He has impeccable intangibles because Henderson always works hard on the floor. Henderson also has a lovable personality and a passion for the team. Scoot is a firm believer in Portland’s rebuild, which is a positive for the fans.
Let’s relax on the Scoot Henderson bust convos.
There have been 45 “On-Ball Guards” drafted between the ages of 19 and 21 since 2014 per @The_BBall_Index. In their rookie seasons, these 45 guys have an average TS% of 51.07. Scoot ranks 32nd with a TS% of 48.94, slightly behind…
— #InSnyderWeTrust (@dlee4three) October 12, 2024
More Opportunities Should Lead to a Better Scoot
To erase the Blazers bust conversation, it is up to the front office to make big decisions. Scoot has objectively struggled, but he deserves more opportunities as a third-overall pick. The Portland rebuild had many options during the 2023 NBA Draft over Scoot, but they believed in him. It would be best to double down on that belief by trading away Simons for a worthy package.
Simons is the longest-tenured Blazer on the roster, but he is a player of the previous regime. Portland General Manager Joe Cronin should believe in his picks and build around Henderson and Sharpe. They have immense potential as a backcourt, especially with a promising supporting cast.
Clingan looks to be a future Defensive Player of the Year candidate. The same goes for combo forward Toumani Camara, who has a limitless defensive ceiling. Deni Avdija fits the timeline and is gradually becoming the Blazers’ best performer in the 2024-25 season.
By trading away players like Simons, Ayton, and Jerami Grant, the Blazers can fully commit to the youngsters. Henderson might not be the most promising player anymore, but he can surprise people with his high-level playmaking.
A new coach could also unlock Henderson’s potential even more. With Billups likely not returning in 2025-26, a more creative head coach could be the key to the Portland rebuild. Everyone would love a big swing like hiring someone like Mark Daigneault, but that is up to the front office.
Shoutout to @blazersedge: Is Chauncey Billups a good coach? pic.twitter.com/kF2yNmBwYC
— No Dunks (@NoDunksInc) October 17, 2023
It is hard to believe after seeing the Scoot stats, but there is a good player there. The playmaking is impressive at only 20 years old. As long as he matures well, the future in Portland is bright.
