When the Portland Trail Blazers brought in 35-year-old Jrue Holiday this offseason, the move wasn’t just about adding a veteran presence-it was about building a bridge. A bridge between the present and the future, between raw talent and refined execution. Most of all, it was about giving Scoot Henderson some breathing room.
Henderson, still just 21 and learning the ropes at the NBA’s most demanding position, showed flashes of promise last season after a rocky rookie campaign. But asking him to carry the full weight of the backcourt this early? That’s a tall order for any young point guard, no matter how high the ceiling.
Holiday was supposed to be the stabilizer. A defensive ace, a battle-tested floor general, and a guy who could help set the tone while Portland’s young core found its footing.
In theory, it made sense. But like a lot of things in the NBA, the theory hasn’t quite matched the reality.
Holiday’s injury history was always part of the risk. Last season in Boston, he posted his lowest scoring and assist numbers since his rookie year-11.1 points and 3.9 assists per game-and appeared in only 62 games.
That decline wasn’t just about role or fit; injuries played a significant role. And when you factor in the NBA’s new 65-game minimum for award eligibility, Holiday would’ve missed the cut in four of the past six seasons.
That’s a trend, not a fluke.
Portland already had its share of injury concerns with Robert Williams III and Matisse Thybulle. Adding another player with a checkered health history made the margin for error even thinner. And now, with Holiday sidelined since mid-November due to a calf strain-and still without a clear return date-that margin has all but evaporated.
The Blazers are 11-16, and while injuries have certainly played a role in that underwhelming start, the writing was on the wall. This team couldn’t afford extended absences from key contributors, especially not from the one veteran brought in to stabilize the backcourt.
That’s why all eyes are now on Scoot Henderson.
The hope was that Henderson would use this season to grow at his own pace, learning behind a seasoned pro like Holiday. Instead, with Holiday out and the Blazers struggling to stay afloat, the pressure is back on the young guard to step into a bigger role-sooner than expected.
Henderson’s own injury hasn’t helped matters. After tearing his hamstring in late September, the initial recovery timeline was four to eight weeks.
But we’re well past that window now, and while the latest updates from team reporter Casey Holdahl say Henderson is progressing, he’s still limited to non-contact work. Portland is playing it safe-and understandably so-but the longer the wait, the more urgent his return becomes.
At this point, it’s unclear whether Henderson will even be back before the calendar flips to 2026. But what is clear is this: when he does return, he won’t just be easing back into the rotation. He’ll be stepping into a central role, one that could determine how the rest of the Blazers’ season unfolds.
The plan was never to lean this heavily on Henderson this early. But plans change.
Injuries happen. And now, if Portland wants to claw its way back into the playoff picture, they’ll need Scoot to accelerate his timeline-and his development.
Ready or not, the keys are about to be handed over.