Photo Credit: Len Werle, OpenCourt Basketball
Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups has made the decision to promote rookie Scoot Henderson to the unquestioned starting point guard for the remainder of the 2023-24 season.
Henderson, who was drafted third overall by the Blazers in 2023, has been impressive in his first year in the NBA, averaging 12.8 points, 4.6 assists, and 3.0 rebounds per game. He has also shown flashes of brilliance, such as scoring 28 points and dishing out 10 assists in a win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 9.
Billups believes that Henderson has earned the right to start, citing his improvement, confidence, and coachability.
“He deserves it,” Billups said, according to Danny Marang of 1080 The FAN. “He’s playing so well, and I want him to earn everything. When I put him on the bench, he was just playing with too much pressure,” Billups added. “He’s very coachable, and I’m happy with his development, he’s been playing really good.”
The Blazers, however, are having a disappointing season, as they currently sit at the bottom of the Western Conference with a 15-39 record. They have lost four straight games and nine of their last 10.
During Media Day of the 2024 NBA Rising Stars Game, as part of the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis, I asked Scoot Henderson about the definite promotion and his feelings about the trust the coaching staff have put in him with their decision. Henderson however said that for him, it isn’t important who starts, it’s important who finishes the games.
“It feels good. I don’t think it matters who starts, or who comes off the bench. It’s about who finished the game and how you impact he game.”
Scoot: “I don’t think it matters who starts, or who comes off the bench. It’s about who finished the game and how you impact he game.” pic.twitter.com/yNuIvTMvD4
— Len Werle (@RealLennyCarlos) February 16, 2024
