Rookie guard Amen Thompson, a first-round pick by the Rockets in the 2023 NBA draft, is no longer with Houston’s G League affiliate after being recalled to the parent club on Saturday morning.
Fellow rookie Cam Whitmore, also drafted by Houston in the 2023 first round, is still with the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Vipers. And in Saturday’s Thompson-less game at the Birmingham Squadron, Whitmore made a big impression in RGV’s 132-99 win (box score).
Whitmore finished with a career-high 42 points in only 29 minutes, shooting 15-of-23 from the field (65.2%) and 5-of-11 on 3-pointers (45.5%). Only 19 years old, the athletic 6-foot-7 forward from Villanova also tallied 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and made 4-of-5 free throws (80.0%), and the Vipers were +31 during his minutes.
Whitmore’s potential role with the 2023-24 Rockets, if any, may not become clear until there’s an injury, trade, or a string of sub-standard performances later in the season. But in the meantime, his strong showings in the G League are certainly turning heads for the likes of general manager Rafael Stone and head coach Ime Udoka.
Here’s a look at Whitmore’s highlights, top plays, and fan reaction.
Dec. 9 Cam Whitmore reaction
highlights from Cam Whitmore's 42 point night 🔥🚀@HoustonRockets pic.twitter.com/0PDcjZuu6p
— RGV Vipers (@RGVVipers) December 10, 2023
Cam Whitmore went OFF in the G-League tonight:
– 42 PTS
– 7 REB
– 3 AST
– 2 STL
– 15/23 FG
– 5/11 3P
– 4/5 FT
– +31In just 29 minutes.#Rockets pic.twitter.com/t9mfj9QYYA
— ᵂᴵᴸᴸ (@BiasedHouston) December 10, 2023
42 PTS 🚀 7 REB 🚀 15/23 FG @HoustonRockets assignee Cam Whitmore went NUCLEAR with a career-high scoring night in just 29 MIN of action for the @rgvvipers! pic.twitter.com/yWOTpAoGW3
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) December 10, 2023
Cam Whitmore has a small guard on him, so he takes him to the paint and draws the foul, and 1. Love what I'm seeing so far pic.twitter.com/UwMLk1Fksg
— Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) December 10, 2023
Even tho he needs it Cam Whitmore, being in the G league just feels so wrong man 😭😭 https://t.co/jcLxdrvvYO
— 3000❤️🚀 (@3_Staks) December 10, 2023
Cam Whitmore might just be too good for the GLeague lol pic.twitter.com/JfSE3pk0cW
— Alex from Earth 616 🤼♀️ 🤼♀️ 🤼♀️ (@LEXthePEX) December 10, 2023
Time to start watching the finals of the NBA cup but I've been very impressed by Cam Whitmore in this game. He's playing better defense, and is way too good as a slasher when attacking a non-crowded paint pic.twitter.com/YqxaFZhuHd
— Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) December 10, 2023
Cam Whitmore with the Lebron-esque chasedown block in transition. Lets the offensive player go by just so he can block the hell out of his shot pic.twitter.com/KA0shgbMin
— Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) December 10, 2023
Call Cam Whitmore up now and stop playing …
— Boogies Cousin❤️ (@HoustonRickets) December 10, 2023
Cam Whitmore throwing a skip to the corner in early transition 😌 pic.twitter.com/wmA7XaNmnI
— Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) December 10, 2023
First round pick Cam Whitmore shows off the BUNNIES on https://t.co/fLGfbO13fw! 🚀@RGVVipers x @HoustonRockets pic.twitter.com/RkOKNPlEWO
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) December 10, 2023
Cam Whitmore will be a 2way Star for the Rockets.
— Active Sports🏀🏈 (@ActiveHoopers) December 10, 2023
If Cam Whitmore went to Ignite instead of Nova he would’ve gone #2 in the draft https://t.co/UBsCd9sqED
— D (@d0m0n23) December 10, 2023
