The Portland Trail Blazers lost their franchise player when they traded Damian Lillard away.
However, they already had a more than suitable replacement in their ranks, as they had drafted Scoot Henderson.
Henderson could be the league’s next big thing, and not just because of his explosive game.
He has unmatched confidence in his skills and handles himself like a pro, looking like a grown man among young kids.
That was evident again when Sean Highkin asked him whether he was starstruck by playing against Kevin Durant in the preseason, to which he replied that he wasn’t and he would never be.
Scoot Henderson, asked whether he was starstruck playing against Kevin Durant: "Nah. I ain't starstruck. I ain't gonna be starstruck, either."
— Sean Highkin (@highkin) October 13, 2023
Henderson is the kind of player who always plays like he has a chip on his shoulder and is looking to make a statement, so he’s not out there to make friends or take pictures with his rivals.
That kind of competitive drive might seem like a minor thing, but it’s often what separates good and talented players from those who work relentlessly to be the best among the best.
Henderson seems to have that “Mamba Mentality” in which he won’t let absolutely anything around him get in his way to greatness.
He was willing to play side-by-side with Lillard if the Blazers failed to trade him or he changed his mind about that.
But now that he’s gone, he hasn’t batted an eye about having the responsibility to be their next franchise player and lead their new era.
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