Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson. Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports

Trail Blazers' Scoot Henderson makes bold claims about rookie season

By Ethan Scott | Last updated 8/8/23

Scoot Henderson, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, has no doubt he'll achieve NBA superstardom.

"I will win Rookie of the Year," the Portland Trail Blazers rookie guard boasted in an interview tweeted by Playmaker. "I'm gonna have a great rookie season. I'm gonna have a great career."

“I will win rookie of the year”

Portland Trailblazers' Scoot Henderson (@thereal013) didn’t take the traditional pathway to the NBA that most players do. As the youngest professional EVER in the G League he was able to not only figure himself out, but his game as well.

Watch… pic.twitter.com/HkMObZ6m4H
— Playmaker (@playmaker) August 7, 2023

Per OddsChecker, Henderson — who starred for the G League Ignite — is third in the Rookie of the Year odds, trailing 7-foot-3 Chet Holmgren of Oklahoma City and the overwhelming favorite, 7-foot-5 Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs.

The G League, the NBA's official minor league, remains an unconventional route to the Association for players. More athletes with NBA potential choose a one-and-done route from college to the NBA.

Henderson made his debut with the G League Ignite as a 17-year-old. In the one season in the league, he averaged 16.5 points, 6.8 assists and 5.3 rebounds. His athletic flair reminds some of Russell Westbrook in his prime.

Henderson, however, must refine his game. Last season, he shot 42.9 percent from the floor, a dreadful 27.5 percent from three and averaged 3.4 turnovers per game.

In the interview, Henderson made other bold claims.

"My goal is to be the best point guard of all time," he said. "When people think of Scoot Henderson, I want them to think of the best player to ever play the game."

Is it a reach? Probably. But let's admire Henderson for speaking his mind.

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