Following the Portland Trail Blazers' recent offseason moves, point guard Scoot Henderson is now well-positioned to win the 2025-26 NBA Most Improved Player award.
The Blazers' young core continues to ascend, meaning you could make a case for multiple players to take home this award next season, including Deni Avdija and Shaedon Sharpe. But Henderson's overlooked second-year leap, combined with the departure of Anfernee Simons, gives Scoot a more straightforward pathway.
Scoot Henderson is set for a breakout season
Henderson's stats actually decreased from his rookie to sophomore season. He averaged 14.0 points, 5.4 assists, and 3.1 rebounds per game as a rookie. His assists and rebounds remained essentially unchanged in his sophomore campaign, while his scoring dipped to 12.7. But those who followed Portland this past season know Henderson was an entirely different player.
He was more comfortable with the pace, physicality, and overall competitiveness of the NBA as he finally settled into the guard position, which takes the longest to adjust to. That was apparent in his overall decision-making, whether it was his shot selection, change of speed, defense, or limiting turnovers.
However, the Blazers and Chauncey Billups questionably didn't increase Henderson's role despite his improved play. From his first to second year, Henderson's minutes slightly decreased from 28.5 to 26.7 per game, while his usage dipped from 26.5 to 22.5 percent. Comparing Simons' 24.6 usage rate to Jrue Holiday's 15.9, it's clear that playmakers like Henderson will directly benefit from this trade.
Henderson is a top candidate to win Most Improved Player
Next season, we will see the improved Henderson from last year -- only those improvements will be magnified in an increased role. So the fact that his numbers didn't jump out this past season will significantly help his MIP case.
Another factor is that Donovan Clingan is now locked in as Portland's starting center following Deandre Ayton's buyout. Going from Simons and Ayton to Holiday and Clingan is a significant swap of offense for defense. Portland's new likely starter pairing combined for an average of just 17.6 points per game last season. With these changes, the Blazers need to generate offense from other sources, making Henderson a prime breakout candidate.
Additionally, Clingan is a much better screen setter than Ayton, which will open up the lanes for Henderson in pick-and-rolls, allowing him to get downhill more frequently. When Henderson shared a court with Clingan, he averaged 17.4 points, 6.9 assists, and 4.0 rebounds per game. With an increased role next season, he may exceed those averages for the 2025-26 season.
Blazers fans have already seen Henderson dominate games, including a 39-point performance in their win over the Brooklyn Nets. The talent that made him a recent No. 3 overall pick is there; he just needs to be more consistent.
Next season, the stars will finally align for Henderson. His increased offensive role and continued improvement will all come together, resulting in a breakout campaign that fans have been eagerly anticipating.