A couple of incoming lottery picks caught an unlucky break in Las Vegas when both suffered injuries in the same game on Friday night. The Houston Rockets edged out the Portland Trail Blazers, 100-99, but both teams lost their top draft picks.
Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson, the #2 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and the top guard prospect in his rookie class, sustained a right shoulder injury in the third quarter of his NBA 2K24 Summer League debut. Henderson didn t return to the game, but had tallied 15 points, six assists, and five rebounds prior to his premature exit.
Scoot was great, said Trail Blazers summer league coach Jonah Herscu. When he s in an attack mindset and getting in the paint, it s really good. And point guard is the first line of defense defensively, so I thought his pressure on Amen Thompson was really good, picking him up near half court, in the back court. He played with good thrust tonight.
The Trail Blazers will shut down Henderson for the remainder of the summer. Henderson is currently +400 odds to win the NBA Rookie of the Year, according to DraftKings.
The Rockets selected forward Amen Thompson with the #4 pick in the draft. Thompson stuffed the stat sheet with 16 points, five assists, four rebounds, four blocks, and three steals in 28 minutes of action.
Thompson rolled his left ankle in the fourth quarter, which ended his summer league debut. An MRI revealed a Grade 2 ankle sprain. The Rockets will also shut down Thompson for the remainder of the summer. Thompson is +2500 odds to win the Rookie of the Year.
