It took just 21 minutes in one game at the 2023 NBA Summer League for Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson to move the needle in a big way. That level of impact is either the most impressive or most confusing outcome following a summer league debut, possibly in NBA history.
But regardless, the hype surrounding Portland’s potential future star stands out in a big way. And that impact apparently has been felt by some NBA team officials, which Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix first reported.
In an eye-opening evaluation of summer league play, Mannix reported that “sky-high” opinions of Henderson’s play have led to “a couple of team officials” wondering whether the Spurs “would regret passing on Henderson down the line.”
Yes, even when their prize for landing the No. 1 pick is a potentially generational talent in Victor Wembanyama.
Speaking of Portland, Scoot Henderson played just 21 minutes in the Blazers’ Summer League opener, but opinions of him among the NBA decision-makers that I talked with are sky high. In talking to execs about Henderson/Brandon Miller—two players whose careers will be forever intertwined—a couple of team officials wondered whether San Antonio would regret passing on Henderson down the line. High praise considering who the Spurs walked away with.
This could be viewed simply as a bold take from a few NBA team officials, but realistically, it should just point to the upside and potential Henderson showcased in very limited Summer League action. It’s not a negative on Wembanyama, but what a wild hypothetical outcome that would be if the future face of Portland’s franchise can prove capable of eventually making that level of impact.
This debate won’t become a realistic one for quite a while, but there’s no question that the hype and expectations surrounding San Antonio’s newest potential star are almost unrivaled when looking back at NBA history. The obvious primary exception to that would be when LeBron James made the jump to the league.
Regardless, the future of the NBA seems to be in more than capable hands, thanks in large part to Wembanyama and Henderson, along with possibly a few other names from the 2023 NBA draft class.
