26 June 2023 , 16:47
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Scoot Henderson, the number-three overall pick in the NBA Draft, has split opinion after selecting his jersey number for the Portland Trail Blazers.
The 19-year-old was taken after Victor Wembanyama and Brandon Miller at Barclays Center last week, and – for now, at least – the Trail Blazers plan to play him in tandem with star point guard Damian Lillard, who has been at the centre of trade speculation since the end of the regular season.
Henderson, who played for Ignite in the G League before making it to the NBA, has chosen 00 as his jersey number. The Georgia native had worn 0 on his Ignite jersey, but that number has long belonged to seven-time All-Star Lillard, 32, in Portland.
Henderson was asked by reporters at his introductory press conference in Oregon whether he had chosen the number himself or if it was assigned to him by the team.
"Honestly, I picked it," he said. "I looked at the roster and, obviously, zero was taken, but 00 kind of came full circle.
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"We designed my Puma shoes a year ago and I put the 00 on it, and literally two days ago, I chose 00. Everything came full circle and god does everything for a reason."
It is safe to say the choice of number divided fans. One wrote: "Gross number, guess I’m not getting a Scoot jersey then."
Scoot Henderson hopes to form a dynamic backcourt partnership with Damian Lillard. (Getty Images)Another used thought the number was too similar to Lillard's. "How the hell you gonna take dames number?" they said.
Others liked the choice, which was surely selected because of the marketing opportunities with the zeros replacing the Os in his name.
But although Henderson is looking forward to working with Lillard and his new teammates, it is possible the rookie never plays for Portland at all.
With Lillard entering the final years of his prime, he has been frustrated by Portland's slide towards the bottom end of the NBA in recent seasons and he has effectively given the organisation an ultimatum of upgrading the roster or trading him away.
Lillard may have preferred if the Blazers traded away the third pick in return for a more experienced player who could have been an instant upgrade to Portland's starting five.
Henderson's arrival has only increased speculation over Lillard's future, with the Miami Heat among the possible suitors.
Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard has been linked with a trade this off-season (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)Blazers general manager Joe Cronin hopes to see both Lillard and Henderson suit up together next season.
"I would say that my goal is to keep both of them," he told ESPN after the draft. "I would love to see Dame retire a Trail Blazer. I have zero desire to trade him.
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"I really hope this works out here. And I think you can tell how excited I am about Scoot Henderson. He has a chance to be a special player in this league."
But just as a possible departure for Lillard cannot be ruled out, the same can be said for Henderson, who was a target for the New Orleans Pelicans who were eager to leap up the draft order in Brooklyn.