Rookie Scoot Henderson Suffers Shoulder Injury in NBA Summer League Debut
LAS VEGAS – The Portland Trail Blazers’ rookie, Scoot Henderson, endured an unfortunate end to his NBA Summer League debut after sustaining an unspecified right shoulder injury in the third quarter against the Houston Rockets. Unfortunately, Henderson did not return to the game.
In a twist of fate, Rockets rookie Amen Thompson also suffered an injury during the same game. Thompson, who was drafted with the No. 4 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, appeared to sustain a left ankle injury late in the fourth quarter. The injury occurred while he was blocking the shot of Blazers center Ibou Badji with just about 50 seconds left, resulting in the two players becoming tangled under the basket.
Henderson, who was selected as the No. 3 pick in last month’s draft, had an impressive performance prior to the injury. He contributed 15 points, six assists, and five rebounds in just 21 minutes. The circumstances surrounding Henderson’s injury remain unclear, as Blazers summer coach Jonah Herscu admitted to not knowing when or how it occurred.
Coach Herscu emphasized the cautious approach taken by the Blazers regarding Henderson’s injury. The team did not make him available to the media, and their immediate focus was to facilitate proper medical testing to ensure his well-being.
Henderson was seen leaving the locker room with headphones around his neck, briefly speaking with head coach Chauncey Billups before taking a phone call. Escorted out of the arena by Blazers personnel, he later returned to wave and greet family and friends, appearing unaffected by any shoulder discomfort.
Teammate Kris Murray offered reassurance, stating that he did not believe the injury was serious, based on Henderson’s body language in the locker room. Murray emphasized the importance of not rushing Henderson’s recovery during Summer League play.
Thompson, on the other hand, finished the game with 16 points and five assists in 28 minutes. He attributed his injury to landing on Henderson’s foot while blocking his shot and twisting his ankle. Thompson expressed confidence in his recovery but acknowledged that the staff would determine if he would participate in future games.
Both Henderson and Thompson’s injuries overshadowed the highly anticipated debut of No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama, who will take the court for the San Antonio Spurs following the Blazers-Rockets game at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.
Despite the unfortunate injuries, the Rockets managed to secure a 100-99 victory with a buzzer-beating shot by Jabari Smith Jr., the No. 3 pick in the 2022 draft.
Note: Jason Quick and Kelly Iko contributed to this report.
(Photo: Lucas Peltier / USA Today)