Damian Lillard's return to the Portland Trail Blazers is going to do wonders for Scoot Henderson's development. And with Henderson now out for four to eight weeks with a hamstring injury, he'll have a golden opportunity to learn from the Blazers' star on the sidelines.
"Neither of us are going to be on the court for a little bit, so it's going to create an opportunity for us to have a lot more dialogue," Lillard said at media day. "We're going to be around each other. There's a lot that I can share with him from experience as a young PG."
Scoot Henderson's injury creates opportunity for mentorship
Lillard also admitted that he doesn't expect to play at all this season, targeting the start of the 2026-27 season as a realistic return date. Billups has previously called Lillard the "highest-paid assistant coach in league history," jokingly referring to the valuable mentorship role he's going to have this season.
"He's not a coach. He's still a player. There's a different level of connectivity that comes with that," Billups explained.
Billups wants Lillard to "keep a really close eye" on Shaedon Sharpe, Deni Avdija, and Henderson in particular. Between Billups, Lillard, and Jrue Holiday, the Blazers have surrounded Henderson with an elite infrastructure. He's spoiled by mentors who offer different perspectives as guards -- Billups as a head coach, Holiday as a calming on-court presence, and Lillard as a player who won't be occupied during games, giving him a better opportunity to mentor Henderson in real-time.
Henderson averaged 12.7 points, 5.1 assists, and 3.0 rebounds on 42/35/77 shooting splits last season. The stats may not reflect it because his minutes and usage rate declined, but he was a significantly better player in his second year.
As a rookie, Scoot seemed to be too eager to prove himself as the No. 3 overall pick, constantly forcing the issue. He's only 21 years old but is already showing signs of maturity, learning how to change speeds and let the game come to him when necessary. That shift has allowed Henderson to become a better overall point guard, resulting in better shot selection and fewer turnovers.
With improved decision-making, better finishing at the rim, and a more reliable three-point shot, there's a lot to be excited about regarding Scoot's development. That's what makes the timing of his injury so unfortunate, as signs were pointing towards him finally taking on an increased role that could result in a breakout season.
However, in the long term, this internship-type experience, shadowing the game through Lillard's mind, could be exactly what Henderson needs to reach his star ceiling.