Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson will be out one to two months with a grade 2 hamstring strain. He originally injured himself in training. The 2023 No. 3 overall draft pick has already become one of the most exciting players in the league. Make no mistake, losing this opportunity is a crippling disappointment both to the community and their soccer club.
Henderson’s breakdown happened on an otherwise unremarkable Wednesday fall practice, necessitating swift medical attention. The team released a statement Friday that he’s likely to return to non-contact basketball activity in the next 6-8 weeks. Given this timeline, there are legitimate questions as to his availability for the start of the 2024 season.
Last year, Henderson had a chance to show he is more than just potential. He averaged 12.7 points, 5.1 assists, and 3.0 rebounds over 66 games. On the court, he is becoming a great scorer, distributor and increasingly solidified himself as the player the Blazers will build around. Without him, the team’s projected lineup will miss a significant void.
The Blazers took Henderson expecting him to be the best player in the draft, knowing he can be special and change the trajectory of the league. He rapidly established himself as a player to watch, demonstrating his elite versatility and offensive game. His absence was especially heartbreaking for the franchise and its fans.
With Henderson out, the Trail Blazers need to make some drastic changes to their game plan. For the time being, they’ll have to rely more on other players to help pick up that scoring slack. What’s most important now is the coaching staff’s ability to navigate this multifaceted challenge while keeping team morale and performance levels high throughout Henderson’s recovery.
Leave a Reply