LAS VEGAS — As the first quarter of the Summer League gets underway, it doesn’t get much better than Sterling “Scott” Henderson revealed Friday for the Trail Blazers.
A point guard who was built like a linebacker, Henderson got anywhere on the ground he wanted, usually with a leg-twisting dribble and an explosive first step. He hit jumpers backwards. Defenders fake it in the air and then pass it to their teammates for a dunk. He clears 3 pointers and leaves his hand in the air for style points. He blew defenders past the baseline and finished the drive with a reverse layup.
When the buzzer sounded in the first quarter, and the crowd paused long enough after snaps and catching a collective breath, Henderson had 13 points, three rebounds and three assists.
“You could tell he wanted to make a statement,” said Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, who watched the game from a bench in the stadium. “And I thought he did.”
There was more to like after the first quarter with the third pick, but his play ended up being overshadowed by an injury. He left the game with 4:51 left in the third quarter due to a right shoulder injury and did not return. It was difficult to determine when and where Henderson was injured, and the team did not make Henderson available after the game. Neither Summer League coach Jonah Hersco nor Billups knew the extent of the injury after the game.
Henderson left the locker room with headphones around his neck and no protective cords or visible laps around his shoulder. He paused briefly and spoke with Billups, then placed a cell phone to his left ear and was led out of the arena by the team personnel. A Blazers spokesperson said the team wanted to take him to a facility for him to be properly evaluated, and he is expected to provide an update on Saturday.
Last season, the Blazers’ top rookie, Shaedon Sharpe, suffered a small tear in his left shoulder just seven minutes into his Summer League debut. He did not play the rest of the Summer League.
Teammate Chris Murray, who was named in the first round of the tournament last month, said he did not expect Henderson’s injury to be serious given Henderson’s post-match body language in the locker room.
“It’s not too bad,” Murray said. “It’s something you don’t want to stress too much about in the summer league.”
Henderson’s shoulder injury was the only concern from his debut. His final stats were solid — 15 points, six assists, five rebounds and two turnovers in 21 minutes — but his raw physicality and untouchable skills were off the charts.
He has blown past anyone and everyone. He had a great vision and was willing to pass. He was outspoken and showed leadership with his teammates, both on the field and in rallies. And… he just looked the part. He was the best player ever he was on the field, and everyone seemed to feel that.
“His superpower is his speed and his explosiveness…and I told him he always needed to play that way, and I thought he did a really good job,” said Billups. “And he did a good job of making the right play most of the match. When he attacked and drew two (defenders), he found the open man, rather than forcing him, which young men can do.”
One subtle but notable play came in the second quarter when Henderson was guarding Houston guard Amin Thompson, who was picked right after Henderson. When Thompson attempted a drive to the right, the Blazers guard slid to his left, locking his chest and blocking Thompson’s drive, causing him to drop back and reset the offense. The defensive play caused the Blazers coaching staff to rise to their feet and applaud them.
“When you make it difficult for your base guard, who are trying to start their offense, it makes it difficult for them to move around and get in,” Hersko said. “It’s very good to be physical with that first line of defense.”
Behind the scenes, players and coaches notice other intangibles. They like his leadership qualities. It’s positive. And throughout the opening week of the practices, he proved to be very livable.
“His parents did a terrible job of raising him,” Hersko said. “He’s got a big head on his shoulders. He’s very composed and very mature, so we’re lucky to have him and we love training him.”
Henderson won’t turn 20 until February, or in the middle of his first season in the NBA, but on Friday it was hard knowing he’s still a teenager — both physically and the way he carries. Not only was he ready for the moment, he seemed to cherish it, thirsting for it.
“He’s got a lot of fire,” said Billups. “He never hangs his head, even when things go wrong. He has the ability to bring men along with him, if that makes sense. At such a young age, that’s not easy.
“And I’ll be honest with you: The fact that he’s played in the G League for the past two years? At 17, he’s really led the guys. He’s been doing it for a while and most people don’t take enough credit for that.”
(Photo by Scott Henderson: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)