Less than a month ago, the Houston Rockets considered drafting Villanova forward Cam Whitmore with their No. 4 overall pick before having the improbable good fortune of seeing him drop to their second selection at No. 20 in the NBA’s 2023 first-round order.
For the Rockets, it was great luck to be able to pair Whitmore — viewed by many as a top-five talent in the draft class — with fellow rookie Amen Thompson, who is also in that tier. As for Whitmore, while the 19-year-old was happy to land in Houston, he was simultaneously annoyed by the unexpected draft-night slide while vowing to play with a “chip on his shoulder,” as a result.
