After a drop in his stock during the 2023 NBA Draft, Cam Whitmore proved the doubters wrong. The athletic wing dominated the NBA’s Summer League with the Houston Rockets and won MVP.
Cam Whitmore Named Summer League MVP
How did He Succeed?
Scoring
Whitmore scored the ball at an elite level, leading in total points with 116. He thrived in isolation situations, transition, and using his athleticism to assert his will at the basket. Whitmore attacked downhill exceptionally well, putting players on their heels through crossovers and quick direction changes. He got out into the break, punishing the rim in fastbreak situations. Whitmore’s ability to score is something he consistently lacked at Villanova a year ago.
He Won Games
All the stats are nice; however, it doesn’t mean much if there is no win. The Rockets struggled last season and are trying to turn a new leaf. They need winners. Whitmore, unlike in college, proved to cater to winning. The Rockets went 5-1, losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers 99-78 in the Finals. While the Rockets did not win the entire thing, Whitmore’s offensive success led to the Rockets going far in Summer League. A young player with physical gifts, he needs to focus his production around winning, and in Vegas, he did just that.
Whitmore Was a Defensive Disruptor
Whitmore may see praise for his offensive success, but he was excellent on the defensive end. He averaged 2.5 steals per game during his time in Las Vegas. His defense led to a lot of success in transition, creating offensive opportunities for the Rockets. Defense is a concept many young NBA players struggle with. Nevertheless, Whitmore was a disruptor on that end. He got steals, played passing lanes well, and made good reads. Ime Udoka is a defensive-minded head coach, so it’s good to see Whitmore impacting the game defensively.
The Last Word on Whitmore
Whitmore is the MVP of the NBA Summer League. It is an incredible accomplishment for him and Houston. The ability to shut down the draft struggles and produce at a high level was remarkable. Therefore, Whitmore can be a great piece to an exciting Rockets team. He must improve his perimeter shooting and turnover rate to maximize his full potential as a player.
Whitmore was terrific, so it’s essential to see him transfer his success to gameplay this season.
