Scoot Henderson missed out on being the first overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft but showcased impressive maturity after going third overall to the Portland Trail Blazers.
On Thursday, the San Antonio Spurs selected Victor Wembanyama with the first pick before the Charlotte Hornets took forward Brandon Miller second. Henderson landed on the Trail Blazers, going third out of the three consensus top players in the class.
In the buildup to the draft, Henderson and Miller divided fans and NBA figures over who is the second-best prospect behind the generational Wembanyama. The Hornets opted for the star out of Alabama, while Henderson will join a young guard core in Portland alongside Shaedon Sharpe and Anfernee Simons.
Despite the hype surrounding Wembanyama, Henderson made headlines as he claimed he was holding on to hopes of being selected ahead of the French phenom. “I think I have a possibility of going No. 1 and I believe in myself as any competitor should," Henderson said ahead of the draft.
In another interview with GQ, he said: "Yeah, I think I should go one. I know I'm gonna go one." The 19-year-old then missed out on going second overall, but he is undeterred by the outcome.
“Not at all,” Henderson told reporters when asked if he was disappointed to get drafted third rather than second. “I’m glad to see Brandon go there. I'm pretty sure it's a great fit for him.
“That's how I move. I move with love. I'm not mad that I didn't go 2 or I didn't go 1. I'm blessed to go 3, and to be here with my family with me.”
Henderson became the youngest American player in history to ever go pro, joining the Ignite in the G League at 17. He averaged 16.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.5 assists over 19 regular season games this past season. He also averaged 16.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 17 games over the past two seasons in Showcase Cup games, the G League's in-season tournament.
Ultimately, Henderson is a point guard who can fly past defenders in transition or half-court sets due to his speed, while he can also create shots for himself and facilitate others. He will be an important piece for Portland going forwards, although he wants to play alongside Damian Lillard.
Lillard has been linked with a trade away from the franchise, who selected him with the sixth pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. The seven-time All-Star averaged a career-high 32.9 points per game in 2022-23, along with 7.3 assists and 4.8 rebounds only for the Trail Blazers to miss the playoffs.
Despite speculation surrounding Lillard’s future, Henderson expressed hopeful excitement about playing with the star guard. He added: “I’m hoping to get to play with Dame, for sure. Special talent, special guard.
“One of my favorites to watch, especially film-wise. Just to pick out how he moves off the court, as well. Yeah, it would be cool to play with him.”
