NBA draft prospect Scoot Henderson will return to the court for the G League Ignite after an 11-game absence.
Henderson is widely considered the best guard in the 2023 NBA Draft, and he played well during a pre-season exhibition game against projected No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama. Henderson, however, hadn’t played since Nov. 18 and missed time after suffering a nasal fracture.
According to Jonathan Givony, his absence has led some decision-makers around the NBA to wonder when and even if he would return to the court this season (via ESPN):
“G League officials said he is being held out due to an abundance of caution as the risk of soft tissue damage is exponentially higher after suffering a concussion and their performance staff wants “to protect his body for his long-term goals.”
Several NBA executives in Las Vegas declared they would be surprised if Henderson played in another game this season because he’s all but assured of being a top-3 pick.
That thinking was shot down emphatically by G League Ignite officials, who said Henderson is an elite competitor who refuses to entertain that type of discussion and will be back on the court soon.”
Even though such speculation was inaccurate, it wouldn’t have been an unreasonable decision by Henderson. The 18-year-old is a rising star who already has a sneaker deal with Puma and he has little left to prove to hear his name as one of the first picks in the 2023 NBA Draft.
There were questions about whether or not Wembanyama, too, would shut it down for the season after dominating against the G League Ignite. His agent, however, said that Wembanyama would have no interest in that because the prospect “wants to compete” and get better.
Last season, Shaedon Sharpe never played a minute for Kentucky but was still selected at No. 7 overall. Henderson’s former G League Ignite teammate Jaden Hardy, meanwhile, was projected as a top draft pick before the season but fell to the second round after a disappointing campaign.
Which side of the coin does Henderson more closely resemble? Based on reporting from Mirin Fader, from a conversation months before the injury, it seemed more likely the latter (via The Ringer):
He watches his idol, Kobe Bryant, too, inspired by why Kobe played so hard, even through injury. Kobe once said that there might be somebody who saved up their money to fly in from somewhere, and can only come to see him that one game. Scoot has embraced that sentiment, not wanting to disappoint that one person.
“When you come see me,” Scoot says, “you gonna see a show.”
Henderson admires Bryant’s willingness to play through injuries, so it would have been very surprising for him to shut down his season unless the injury required as much.
According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, meanwhile, those around Henderson raved about his “internal drive” during the G League Showcase in Las Vegas. He told Scotto that he has a “competitive spirit” and that he wants to be the No. 1 overall pick.
As one scout told Raphael Barlowe, some decision-makers feel that it is very important to show that type of competitive edge during the pre-draft process (via NBA Big Board):
“I wouldn’t want a player on my team who opted not to play because he was more concerned about the NBA draft than competing. I see both sides of it, but it’s selfish. Selfish on the player’s part and selfish of the agent to even suggest a kid to sit out with an injury that isn’t close to season-ending.”
Henderson’s injury was not one that would be considered season-ending, though, so fans should have always expected Henderson to return to the court sooner rather than later.
Henderson needed the recovery time to limit exacerbating his injury with soft tissue damage after not playing full contact. But now, he has had that time and it will help ensure that he is as prepared as possible for the next steps of what is likely going to be a long career in the NBA.
Especially for those as talented as he is, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Note: This story was updated at 4:15 PM EST on Dec. 27.
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