HOUSTON — In his pregame media session prior to Monday’s game between the Lakers and Rockets, Los Angeles coach Darvin Ham referred to a “three-headed monster” for the home team.
That monster, as Ham clarified, consisted of veteran point guard Fred VanVleet and two talented third-year prospects: center Alperen Sengun (already an All-Star candidate) and guard Jalen Green. Houston drafted both players in the NBA’s 2021 first round.
Later in the same interview, Ham shared strong praise for emerging Rockets rookie Cam Whitmore, who the Lakers had in for a pre-draft visit prior to Whitmore’s selection by Houston in the 2023 first round. Ham referred to Whitmore as a “bright young superstar.”
“Just another bright superstar that is going to be in our league a long time,” said Los Angeles Lakers HC Darvin Ham about Houston Rockets rookie Cam Whitmore #Rockets #Sarge @TheRocketsWire pic.twitter.com/WjkLksafvb
— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) January 30, 2024
Ham expanded his commentary to include all of Houston’s young nucleus. Whitmore, Sengun, Green and second-year forward Jabari Smith Jr. were among the names he rattled off.
“They’ve got the makings to be really special for a long time,” Ham surmised of the current young core in Houston.
