Scoot Henderson Returns From Concussion Protocol, Says Goal Is To Be No. 1 Pick In NBA Draft

Despite recent reports that Scoot Henderson might shut it down for the rest of the season after spending three weeks in concussion protocol after a nasal fracture, he returned to the G League Ignite in triumphant fashion Tuesday night.

The 6-foot-2 guard had 20 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists, including a huge floater to send the game to overtime, to help lead the Ignite to a 114-108 victory over the Ontario Clippers.

Henderson, 18, projects as the No. 2 pick in next year’s NBA Draft behind 7-foot-5 Frenchman Victor Wembanyama, whom one agent recently said could be “the greatest player ever.”

Yet Henderson has continually maintained his goal is to go No. 1.

“I’m blessed to be in the position I am for sure. I want to be No. 1,” he told Michael Scotto of Hoopshype.com. It’s my competitive spirit. I’m itching to be No. 1 in whatever I do, whether it’s badminton, pickleball, or whatever it is, I want to win. Second is great as well, but No. 1 is the goal.”

Steve Haney, Henderson’s agent, said Henderson never planned to shut it down because he’s a competitor.

“Great players don’t ‘shut down’ in the middle of the season,” Haney said by text. “He’s way too competitive for that to even be a conversation.”

A year and a half ago, he chose the G League path — which pays players six-figure salaries — over Auburn, Georgia and a lucrative offer from the Overtime League. Last season, he averaged 14.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.6 steals in 28 minutes per game despite being just 17 years old.

He has since signed a multi-year deal with PUMA.

Desmond Eastmond, who trained Henderson and also previously worked with Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics and Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans, previously said Henderson is a cross between several great players, including John Wall and Russell Westbrook.

“There’s a piece of all of the great ones within him,” he said. “He has that explosiveness and that competitive spirit of Russell Westbrook. He has that end-to-end speed of John Wall. He has the body control of a Jamal Crawford, and that’s what makes up Scoot Henderson.”

“His work ethic is unbelievable, unmatched for somebody that age,” he added. “His drive, his ability to want to be great, I mean he’s a special kid.

“We’ve had Zion Williamson, Jaylen Brown, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, JJ Hickson, we’ve had some special kids in our time, but he’s on another level.”

“I want to be like Andre Miller with the pace and the ability to see the floor,” Henderson told Hoopshype. “Pass like Chris Paul and be smart. On a skillset level, I want to be like Damian Lillard. I want to be a clash of all those guys. On defense, be like Jrue Holiday. I watch all of their film and try to be that one whole player.”

In another six months, Henderson will hear NBA Commissioner Adam Silver call his name, likely as the No. 2 overall pick, with teams like Detroit, Charlotte and Houston in the mix for both Wembanyama and Henderson.

“I want everyone to know the name Scoot Henderson,” he told Hoopshype. “I want to be great. I looked up to Kobe. Everything he talked about was like the whole aspect of being great is it’s not just the people around you or the work you put in, but it’s playing for the fans.”