Portland Trail Blazers point guard Scoot Henderson has yet to play a game this season due to an unfortunate and untimely left hamstring tear during an offseason workout. That injury has lingered into 2026, leaving the Blazers shorthanded in the backcourt. Fortunately, it sounds like reinforcements are finally on the way. Henderson is in the final stage of his recovery and has been cleared to participate in contact drills at practice, Sean Highkin of Rip City Radio 620 Portland reports.
This is an encouraging update that Blazers fans have been eagerly waiting for. While it may take time for Henderson to make a significant impact in terms of a potential minutes restriction and needing time to find his rhythm, this could eventually prove to be just the boost Portland needs to get back in the playoffs.
Scoot Henderson's close return could propel Blazers into the playoffs
The Blazers quietly have a realistic chance of making not only a play-in spot but also the postseason. Their season is finally trending in the right direction as their young core takes a collective leap while key pieces finally return from injury.
Henderson has received criticism early on in his young career for not meeting the lofty expectations associated with being the No. 3 overall pick in 2023. Still, he deserves credit as he's already come a long way since that concerning bad rookie season. He was finally figuring out how to impact winning in multiple aspects, improving his overall decision-making and letting the game come to him rather than constantly trying to force the issue and prove to everyone why he was a top pick. That playmaking and decision-making as a primary ball handler will be particularly beneficial for the Blazers, as that's been a significant area of weakness this season.
Bleacher Report's Grant Hughes used one word to describe every team in 2026, and for the Blazers, that word was "disorganized." Hughes notes that the Blazers had the most turnovers in the league in December, and lead the entire association in turnover percentage this season.
"The team isn't generating quality looks because the offense—which has operated for much of the season without a true point guard—lacks players with shot-creation skills," Hughes writes. "The Blazers are playing a style that suits their current personnel. The results suggest more organization and better ball control, both of which could come from a healthy set of point guards, are necessary to improve the bottom line."
Portland's offense has struggled in both the playmaking and shooting departments, which is a recipe for disaster. As Hughes notes, they've been able to compensate for those roster weaknesses by winning the possession battle. If they can keep winning the possession battle while improving those weaknesses, they should be able to win more games.
With the thin margin for error to make the playoffs out west, adding Scoot back into the equation could be the difference between whether or not they get a head start in Cancun come April.