Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups has made his expectations clear for Scoot Henderson this offseason: compete, and compete often.
Speaking to KATU News, Billups emphasized the importance of live game reps in Henderson’s development after a challenging sophomore campaign.
“I want him to just play as much five-on-five basketball as he can,” Billups said, via HoopsHype. “You have to play basketball—and a ton of it—to be able to see those things and for the game to slow down for you.”
Henderson, who averaged 12.7 points and 5.1 assists per game in 66 appearances during the 2024–25 season, showed flashes of growth despite the Trail Blazers missing the playoffs for the fourth straight year.
Billups acknowledged the difficulty of the situation Henderson walked into following Damian Lillard’s departure. The 21-year-old was thrust into a rebuilding roster with high expectations and an evolving role.
“It’s been very difficult on him, but he’s handled it great,” Billups noted. “As he played more and more, that’s when things started to change for him.”
Portland finished the season 12th in the Western Conference at 36–46, matching Phoenix’s record and ending six games back of the play-in tournament. Still, Henderson showed measurable improvement, raising his shooting percentages across the board from his rookie year.
According to Billups, more time in competitive settings is the next step. The coach pointed to in-game learning as the key for Henderson to improve his decision-making, passing angles, and finishing.
“He starts to see different things. He sees the lob. He sees the kick-out. He finishes,” Billups said. “That comes with playing a lot.”
Henderson, who started just 10 games this past season, has remained in Portland to train with teammates and participate in scrimmages, underscoring his commitment to internal growth.
Billups credited Henderson’s attitude and resilience, saying, “It was up and down… but he’s one of those guys that handles the downs and the ups with such grace.”
