Scoot Henderson is entering a pivotal third season with the Portland Trail Blazers. He's trending upwards due to improved play and a projected increased role following the departure of Anfernee Simons. That combination is perfect timing for his development, and could result in a breakout campaign.
Blazers fans will soon realize that Henderson isn't behind in his developmental trajectory; rather, young guards take time to develop in the NBA. There are countless examples of this being the case, including Russell Westbrook, Mike Conley, De'Aaron Fox, and Darius Garland. Henderson is next in line.
Scoot Henderson is showing improvement and just needs time
Henderson was prematurely written off as a bust after an underwhelming rookie season. After being Portland's prized No. 3 overall selection, he averaged 14.0 points, 5.4 assists, and 3.1 rebounds. Those numbers aren't bad on the surface, but they don't paint the whole picture. He was constantly lost defensively, had a concerning turnover problem, an inability to change speeds when needed, and an unreliable shot.
Henderson quietly addressed several of those concerns in his second season. His numbers (12.7 points, 5.1 assists, and 3.0 rebounds) don't depict that as his minutes and usage rate puzzlingly decreased from his rookie campaign, but Scoot was much more impactful on winning. He was more efficient as a three-level scorer and was making much better reads in general, letting the game come to him rather than constantly forcing the issue and feeling the need to prove his value as a top pick.
As a result of his upward trajectory, the question surrounding Henderson now shifts from whether Portland drafted a bust to whether Scoot will reach his star ceiling.
Kevin O'Connor and Steve Jones Jr. recently previewed the NBA's Northwest Division heading into the 2025-26 season on The Kevin O'Connor Show. KOC identifies the most critical question for the Blazers as whether or not things actually click for point guard Scoot Henderson.
"He showed some progress last year after a really not great rookie season. Does he become their point guard of the future? Does he force his way into heavy minutes on this team and look like the energizer?" O'Connor said.
At worst, it's apparent that Scoot will be an impactful rotational player for the Blazers. But with the additions of Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard, Henderson will need to take another step forward to earn a spot in Chauncey Billups' starting lineup. With Holiday's limited usage and Lillard's expected gap year, Henderson will have every opportunity to claim the keys to the backcourt. Signs point to him rising to the occasion.
This season will prove that Scoot isn't behind in his career; he's right on track.