We’re deep into Scoot Henderson’s third NBA season, and the biggest headline around him right now isn’t about a breakout performance - it’s about the growing uncertainty surrounding his future. At just 21 years old, Henderson has yet to play a game in the 2025-26 season due to a torn hamstring, and his return still doesn’t seem imminent.
That leaves the Trail Blazers in a tricky spot: they’re heading toward year four of the Scoot era without a clear sense of who he is as an NBA player. And for a franchise that drafted him to be a cornerstone, that’s a tough pill to swallow.
Here’s the thing: this isn’t about Scoot being a bad player. It’s about not knowing what kind of player he actually is - and that’s a different kind of concern.
Last season, especially in the back half, we started to see glimpses of progress. He averaged around 13 points per game, shot the ball with decent efficiency, and began showing signs that he could be a solid defender.
But the signature traits that made him such a tantalizing prospect - the burst, the rim pressure, the ability to take over possessions - they weren’t consistently there.
At his best so far, Henderson has looked like a serviceable backup guard. And let’s be honest: that’s not what Portland had in mind when they used a top-three pick on him.
If that’s close to his ceiling, then the Blazers are looking at a very different rebuild timeline than they initially planned for. The hope was that Henderson would be a dynamic offensive engine - a lead guard who could grow into a franchise centerpiece.
But now, coming off a serious hamstring injury, expecting a sudden leap in that direction might be setting the bar unfairly high.
And while Henderson’s development has stalled, the context around him in Portland has changed. When the Blazers drafted him, they were in full rebuild mode and willing to live with growing pains.
But now? This team is above .500 and clearly trying to win.
That changes the calculus. Development minutes aren’t just handed out anymore - they’re earned.
Veteran guard Jrue Holiday has brought stability and leadership to the backcourt. He’s not the long-term solution, but he’s been a steadying presence.
Damian Lillard, back in Portland, may not be the same player he was during his first stint, but he’s still going to command a major role. And then there’s rookie Caleb Love - an undrafted free agent who’s already making a noticeable impact.
Love isn’t just surviving out there; he’s helping the Blazers win games. That’s more than Henderson has been able to do so far, and that contrast is hard to ignore.
Now, let’s be clear: calling a 21-year-old with fewer than 150 NBA games under his belt a “bust” would be wildly premature. Henderson’s story is still being written.
But the idea that he’ll return this season and suddenly look like the player he was projected to be? That’s probably not realistic.
And that means the Blazers could be heading into next year still unsure of what they have in him.
For a top-three pick, that’s a precarious place to be.