Blazers' rising star Scoot Henderson omitted from NBA All-Rookie honors

The NBA recently announced its selections for the 2023-24 NBA All-Rookie First Team and All-Rookie Second Team honors. The two unicorn big men were the headliners, San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama and Oklahoma City's Chet Holmgren. Wembanyama was also already awarded Rookie of the Year honors, the first unanimous winner since Karl-Anthony Towns in 2016.

Overall, the voting committee did a solid job of awarding these honors for what is shaping out to be an impactful 2023 NBA Draft class. Unfortunately, no Portland Trail Blazers players were among the ten selected.

Blazers' Scoot Henderson left off the 2023-24 NBA All-Rookie teams

One player who didn't quite make the cut is Blazers' point guard Scoot Henderson, who was the No. 3 overall pick in the draft. On the season, Henderson averaged 14 points, 5.4 assists, 3.1 rebounds, and 0.8 steals per game on 39/33/82 shooting splits. He made a compelling case to at least make Second Team honors but ultimately fell short in the voting.

The two players that went before Henderson in the draft, Wembanyama and Brandon Miller, made the First Team. Seeing Jaime Jaquez Jr. on the First Team rubs salt in the wound, as he was involved in Blazers trade rumors last offseason after Damian Lillard expressed his desire to go to the Miami Heat. 

Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II stands out amongst the NBA All-Rookie Second Team as someone with a legitimate case for a spot on the First Team. But, besides Lively, everyone else's Second Team selection seems correct. Here's how the rest of the voting ended up.

Henderson would have made the NBA All-Rookie Third Team, which he would have headlined along with Warriors' Trayce Jackson-Davis and Pistons' Ausar Thompson. The final spot on the Second Team was a very tight finish between Grizzlies' GG Jackson II and Jackson-Davis, with a one-point differential. Henderson finished with 33 total points, which was ten less than Jackson.

Interestingly, Henderson received a first-place vote, which neither Jackson-Davis nor Thompson did. 

Blazers rookies Toumani Camara and Duop Reath each received two second-place votes. They've been pleasant surprises, and it's great to see them getting recognition around the league despite Portland's lackluster season.

While Henderson had a case to make the Second Team, it won't matter at the end of his career as long as he continues progressing. Henderson played much better to the end of the season. As long as Henderson improves aspects of his game that left him off the Second Team—turnovers, shooting, finishing around the rim, and overall consistency—the Blazers' future is still promising.