Cam Whitmore, the Rockets' unleashed dunker

” I've been asked twice to participate in the dunk contest and I said no. I'm waiting for the moment to come. “Given his performance last night, one would be tempted to say that the time has come for Cam Whitmore, whose declaration dates back six months.

Against the Wizards in the summer league, he put on a real show in the air: a two-handed back-of-the-line dunk in transition after a caviar from Reed Sheppard, a poster on Alexandre Sarr after taking the baseline, a lobbed pass sent by the same Sheppard crushed with one hand in the style of Vince Carter…

Not forgetting this unopposed counter-attack flight finished by spinning his arms, a sort of reverse “windmill”. I'm not going to lie, I was thinking of something to do. “, he describes his few hesitant steps before going up on the action in question.

The dunk contest then? I want to be an All-Star first, then I will participate in the competition. If I am selected to the All-Star Game, I will participate in the competition the same year. “, aims the 20-year-old athlete.

Already an accomplice with Reed Sheppard

In other words: the fans will have to be patient and be content with his gestures in matches, while his teammates will continue to enjoy themselves. Cam is an incredible athlete. He's really easy to play with. Anytime he's near the rim, you can just throw the ball and he'll go get it. ” notes Reed Sheppard.

The complicity between the two men is already obvious. Last night, after scoring 20 points against the Lakers, Cam Whitmore finished with 25 points (9/15 shooting), 8 assists, 5 steals and 4 assists. The first two games have been spectacular, picking up where we left off last year. I also want to play with Reed, it's great to play with him. ” appreciates Cam Whitmore.

The 20th pick in the 2023 Draft had finished his rookie season with an average of 12 points, and had already shown an undeniable ability to put on a show. The challenge is to know if his style of play, which relies heavily on his physical qualities, can allow him to move up a gear in the big league.

Finding the balance

” He can go head down and be aggressive, he's so powerful in penetration. He has a unique gift. But he also has to find a balance between his ability to see the field and his teammates when he draws the defense. In the half, he sometimes gets into trouble. It's part of his development. “, judges Garrett Jackson, Rockets assistant and summer coach.

Cam Whitmore, having spoken to GM Rafael Stone and his coach Ime Udoka, is aware that he has to do better in this area. They don't really care about my points. So I try to do what they asked me to do. “, aims the former Villanova who has worked on his mid-range shot to try to vary his game.

“ I'm trying to perfect my game, make sure my 3-point shot is up to par. I'm really trying to work on my mid-range shot, my step-back shot. That's something I need to work on, my mid-range shots, trying to change directions, things like that. “, says the man who was already shooting 36% from behind the arc last year.

How to read the stats? GM = Games Played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots Made / Shots Attempted; 3pts = 3-pointers / 3-pointers Attempted; LF = Free Throws Made / Free Throws Attempted; Off = Offensive Rebound; Def = Defensive Rebound; Tot = Total Rebounds; Pd = Assists; Fte: Personal Fouls; Int = Steals; Bp = Loose Balls; Ct: Blocks; Pts = Points.