During Monday’s media day to launch 2023-24 Houston Rockets training camp, rookies Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore kicked off what they each hope is a long and distinguished NBA career.
Both rookies played well at the NBA’s 2023 summer league, but they know the competition will be much steeper against veteran players. That competition begins at training camp, where both Thompson and Whitmore will look to make their case for minutes.
“I’ll be ready for this NBA season,” Whitmore said after earning summer-league MVP honors. “Guys are much bigger, much faster.”
With Kevin Porter Jr. no longer with the team after his recent arrest for an alleged assault, Whitmore could be in line for more minutes off the bench, head coach Ime Udoka confirmed Monday.
Whitmore, a Villanova product, was drafted at No. 20 overall in June. Thompson, who played for the Overtime Elite professional league, was Houston’s top pick at No. 4 in the first round.
Here’s a roundup of what we heard from Houston’s rookie duo at Monday’s media day from Toyota Center. Training camp starts Tuesday at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana.