Author: Monojit Mandal
Cam Whitmore, the Houston Rockets’ rookie phenom, is ready to make his mark on the NBA as he aims to win the prestigious Rookie of the Year award for the 2023-24 season. Whitmore outlined his goals in an interview with ESPN after a spectacular performance at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, where he was named MVP.
Whitmore, who is confident in his ability, declared:“I possess the most comprehensive skill set among the lottery picks and consider myself a standout athlete in the league“. However, he’s aware that winning the Rookie of the Year award won’t be easy, as he’ll be up against notable rookies such as Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs, Chet Holmgren of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Scoot Henderson of the Portland Trail Blazers, Brandon Miller of the Charlotte Hornets and even his own teammate, Amen Thompson.
In addition, Whitmore will have to compete for playing time on his own team against a host of competitors that includes second-year forwards Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason, dynamic wings Dillon Brooks and Kevin Porter Jr. and veteran Jae’Sean Tate.
Whitmore, despite being only 19 years old, should not be ignored. During Houston’s summer league season, he was named MVP, far above expectations. This feat is all the more surprising given the absence of Thompson, Smith and Eason from the team due to injuries and rest.
Availability remains a concern for many players during the regular season, giving Whitmore the opportunity to take on a more prominent role, even if his initial commitment will be restricted when the 2023-24 season begins in October.
Whitmore, who is 1.70m tall and has a 7.0m wingspan, shows versatility by moving smoothly between the small forward and power forward positions. His skills include outside shooting and scoring on the court. He also has impressive rebounding and defensive skills, making him a great asset for the Rockets.
Whitmore’s excellent performance in the NBA Summer League established his potential after being selected as the 20th overall pick in the 2023 NBA draft. He averaged 18.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game, which earned him a spot on the Summer League first team.