Will we see again Cam Whitmore with the Rockets? The question may have arisen at the start of the season, with the progressions of Tari Eason And Amen Thompson at his post behind Dillon Brooks and the way Houston is performing at the end of the first third of the regular season, with a good third place in the West.
Assigned to the G-League after leaving Ime Udoka's rotation after seven games, the former Villanova resident had been in the G-League for a month, where he had the opportunity to show that he remains a formidable forward with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, averaging 19.3 points (50.3% shooting, 40.7% 3-point shooting in 3.4 attempts), 5.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists on average in 28 minutes per game. His investment in the NBA lobby has in any case allowed him to make another appearance on the upper level this Thursday against the Pelicans.
In the absence of Tari Eason, who was injured in the leg, Cam Whitmore was able to play three minutes, and his hands were visibly heating up (4 points at 2/2 shooting), sticking to his new philosophy.
“I have to go kill them”, he summarized. “No matter who is in front of me, I will give my all. Here I'm in the G-League, so I'm just going to give it my all, continue to fight every day, to progress to become a better person and a better basketball player (…). It’s true that I didn’t have much time to show it. It's hard to do that in short periods to be honest. But it's the NBA. Last year, I think I did a good job finishing my first season (13.3 points, 4.2 rebounds in 20 minutes over the last 40 games). I just have to keep it up.”
Still progress to be made to satisfy Ime Udoka
Even during his short stint, and while the match was being played, we were still able to see why Ime Udoka gradually removed him from his rotation, particularly given his defensive oversights, like when he left the New Orleans Antonio Reeves opened in the corner on two straight possessions.
“Defensive reading is something important to him. We really insisted on this point. The other point was shot selection, and I think he has improved a lot on both of those things. I'd like to see him rebound a little more, and do some things like that, but overall, the impact he's had (in the G-League) playing and putting together games has been good for him. . We saw certain things on which he must continue to improve”slipped Ime Udoka.
The player is aware of his shortcomings, particularly on the speed with which he has to make his choices, on both ends of the pitch, adding that he needs to be more focused in attack on what he has to do when he does not have the ball. But above all, Cam Whitmore is far from having given up after this month spent away from the NBA.
“It’s life, I just have to keep fighting, taking refuge in work. I have to take it day by day. I have my family, my loved ones, my friends around me to continue to encourage me, keep my head up and make sure I don't do anything unusual. I just have to let it stay in God’s hands.”
| 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 | 9 | 9 | 40.0 | 4.8 | 62.5 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 5.7 |
| Total | 56 | 17 | 44.9 | 33.2 | 67.2 | 0.9 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 11.2 | |
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.
