With rookie Amen Thompson (left ankle sprain) and second-year forwards Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason (rest) sitting out the remainder of the NBA’s 2023 summer league, the expectation entering the final three games for the Houston Rockets was for rookie forward Cam Whitmore to receive a more featured role.
As it turned out, second-year guard Trevor Hudgins took on much of the playmaking burden. He came through in a big way in Tuesday’s 105-92 win (box score) over Oklahoma City. The Rockets (3-0) remain unbeaten and in contention for the 2023 summer-league playoffs (format) in Las Vegas.
Hudgins, who signed with Houston in the 2022 offseason as an undrafted free agent out of Northwest Missouri State, showed why he remains on a two-way NBA contract by scoring a game-high 26 points on efficient 10-of-20 shooting (50%), including five 3-pointers. He also ran the offense well; he finished with 7 assists to one turnover.
Whitmore had 16 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals, making 6-of-14 shots (42.9%) but just 1-of-8 on 3-pointers (12.5%). Rookie forward Matthew Mayer added 19 points and 10 rebounds off the bench for summer head coach Ben Sullivan (Ime Udoka’s top assistant) on 6-of-11 shooting (54.5%) and 3-of-8 on 3-pointers (37.5%).
Rookie wing Keyontae Johnson led the Thunder (1-1) in Tuesday’s loss with 19 points on 9-of-14 shooting (64.3%), while big man KJ Williams had 19 points (61.5% FG) and 13 rebounds.
Read on for highlights, postgame interviews with players and coaches, and reaction by fans and media members to Tuesday’s game. Houston returns to action Thursday versus Golden State, with tipoff at 6 p.m. Central and television coverage on ESPN.
Rockets-Thunder reaction
Trevor Hudgins (26 PTS, 7 AST) and the @HoustonRockets remain unbeaten in the #NBA2KSummerLeague! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/qOTiSaAVb9
— NBA TV (@NBATV) July 12, 2023
Cam kind of reminds me of an Andrew Wiggins type of profile too – physically dominant. If you groom him to be a two-way wing / high-end super-role player, he'll be way more efficient and impactful.
I'm glad he wont come here with expectations to carry the franchise.
— StanfordKP (@stanfordkp) July 12, 2023
the boy is elite 🔥
— RGV Vipers (@RGVVipers) July 12, 2023
Trevor Hudgins is *cooking*, good lord. He's been much better on both ends than he was last year.
— Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) July 12, 2023
Like Cam Whitmore as a cutter a lot. Everything else still needs work but that's fine.
His next summer league is a whole lot more important than this one.
— Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) July 11, 2023
Tari Eason said he heard about Amen Thompson, but playing with him live, he's so impressed with the "fast-twitch things he does" and the passes he makes.
"You can't see it anywhere but live. When you see it, it's really special."
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) July 11, 2023
Houston Rockets rookie Cam Whitmore with authority 👀
— No Ceilings (@NoCeilingsNBA) July 11, 2023
It’s night and day how much more composed Whitmore seems in the last two games, relative to the opener. Can tell Ben Sullivan and staff have put in real work
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) July 11, 2023
Shoutout to Matthew Mayer doing the most with his opportunity. Thursday will be big for him and a shot at that 2 way.
— Brandon H (@iBrand0n300) July 12, 2023
Matthew Mayer went off for the #Rockets today:
19 PTS | 1 AST | 9 REB | 2 BLK
6/11 FG
3/8 3PT
4/5 FTFinal roster spot/2-way? 👀 pic.twitter.com/ao971iq9M7
— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA) July 12, 2023
Look at this defense from Matthew Mayer!
He wants that roster spot. pic.twitter.com/MIuVeDDd7g
— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA) July 12, 2023
Matthew Mayer in the first quarter:
(5:30 MIN)8 PTS | 4 REB | 3/4 FG | 2/3 3PT
He’s fighting for a roster spot! pic.twitter.com/DeJ6YsUYSE
— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA) July 11, 2023
Defender gets caught ball watching and Cam Whitmore dives toward the rim.
Great cut. pic.twitter.com/EYLkfxX4Jb
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) July 11, 2023
“That’s a grown man finish!”
Cam Whitmore used all of his 6’7” 235 lb frame on this one. pic.twitter.com/MwB5LUMUnz
— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA) July 12, 2023
Cam Whitmore just scored on the opening tip for the 2nd game in a row: pic.twitter.com/dX5mVPj5w2
— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA) July 11, 2023
Undefeated teams in Vegas through 5 days: (+/- differential per game)
3-0:
Cavs (+16.7)
Rockets (+8.7)2-0:
Pacers (+15.5)
Lakers (+12.5)
Jazz (+9.0) pic.twitter.com/17GL3OrD3b— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA) July 12, 2023
Notable #Rockets statlines tonight:
Hudgins: 26 PTS | 7 AST | 5 3PM | 10/20 FG
Mayer: 19 PTS | 9 REB | 2 BLK | 6/11 FG
Samuels Jr: 19 PTS | 2 REB | 4 AST | 5/9 FG
Whitmore: 16 PTS | 8 REB | 3 AST | 3 BLK
3-0 through 3 games! Who stood out to you? pic.twitter.com/cu51UrhCDf
— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA) July 12, 2023
Rafael Stone and Ime Udoka sitting courtside to watch Cam Whitmore and the Summer League Rockets pic.twitter.com/BXruJmL5T0
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) July 11, 2023
Cam Whitmore drains the triple. He is off to a nice start and looks good again in his third summer league game. pic.twitter.com/BNq0C6YXAI
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) July 11, 2023
Trevor Hudgins doing some reporting on Darius Days' jersey change 😂 pic.twitter.com/OvGv2LcgS3
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) July 12, 2023
Baseline pull-up from Cam Whitmore pic.twitter.com/wyBayFae8p
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) July 11, 2023
John Lucas here at Summer League pic.twitter.com/m0VdQgGmWR
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) July 11, 2023
Trevor Hudgins with a game leading 26 points. Showed some good touch around the rim, 5-15 from 3, not bad. 7 AST vs 1 TO. Could be a fun two-way.
Matthew Mayer looked like MPJ out there. Shot a ton, 6-11 FG, 3-8 3P, 19 Pts. Also had 10 REB and 2 BLK. Very fun watch. Plays smart.
— ⚡️𝙃𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙏𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙜𝙤⚡️ (@HotelBasketball) July 12, 2023
Even though they’re not playing, Tari and Jabari still helping guide the young guys. #Leadership 🚀 pic.twitter.com/V7cAMxBa7h
— Vanessa Richardson (@SportsVanessa) July 11, 2023
Cam Whitmore can absolutely become a great on ball defender. Elite strength, good feet, quick hands
The rare wing who immediately has the physicality to deal w/ Luka, Ant, etc.
— Draft Dummies (@DraftDummies) July 11, 2023
“We’re a good group,” Hudgins said. “We’ve got good coaches. And we all bought in. They taught us physicality and spacing on the floor and just be ourselves, play our game. That’s what we’re doing.”
Yeah, the #Rockets coaching has been evident this summer league versus the past. https://t.co/NKpkU9i2fJ
— Chris A. White 🐻 (@fyrebear) July 12, 2023
"Center Jay Huff had left the #Rockets summer league team, expected to have lined up a contract with another team."
Jermaine Samuels ended up playing small ball center in this one and chipped in with 19pts. https://t.co/NKpkU9i2fJ
— Chris A. White 🐻 (@fyrebear) July 12, 2023
