This is an action that undoubtedly pleased Ime Udoka. When Cam Whitmore cut the passing line between Daniel Theis and Jordan Hawkins to intercept the leather and fly to the dunk on the counterattack. The Rockets were already 26 points ahead of the Pelicans, and the winger continued his great evening.
While he has spent more time in the G-League than in the Big League in recent weeks, the winger is doing his best to establish himself permanently in the Texan rotations. This night, he took advantage of the absences of Dillon Brooks and Tari Eason to benefit from his most playing time of the season.
Result: 27 minutes, spread over the entire game, including before “garbage time”, to sign from point to minute. He recalled that he was never afraid to shoot, whether from 3-point range (4/8) or attacking the circle, where he once again showed off his athletic qualities. Cam Whitmore took advantage of the weak defensive resistance of the Pelicans to sign 27 points on 9/16 shots.
Give yourself defense first
“ It means a lot. That's all I want, to be in an NBA squad, to have a coach who believes in me, ball in hand or without. And who also believes in me in defense, I show that. Try to go all out on defense first, and let the offense take over “, sums up the 20-year-oldwho the coach challenged to have more impact in this sector, as well as in the rebound.
After a first start five days ago at 3 minutes, he scored 11 points in 14 minutes against the Raptors, then 17 points in 27 minutes in Charlotte. So it didn't take long for him to regain sensations. “ I am proud of myself, of the work I do. My teammates trust me with the ball in hand. I'm gradually finding my rhythm, but I'm not there yet », he nuances.
Fred VanVleet says he is marked by “ his approach, his maturity, his enormous concentration. He's great coming back from the G-League and letting it be known that he wants to be with us. He wants to play, have minutes and that's what we have to do. You have to earn it, you have to work every day. He's clearly talented and a tremendous talent for us. We know he can clearly score, he scores effortlessly, but he's also taken a step forward with the rest of his game. » Enough to no longer have to go back and forth?
| Cam Whitmore | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2023-24 | HOU | 47 | 19 | 45.4 | 35.9 | 67.9 | 0.9 | 2.9 | 3.8 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 12.3 |
| 2024-25 | HOU | 12 | 13 | 44.6 | 23.1 | 68.2 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 2.3 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 8.8 |
| Total | 59 | 18 | 45.3 | 34.0 | 67.9 | 0.9 | 2.6 | 3.5 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 11.6 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
