Cam Whitmore achieved a good performance this season with the Houston Rocketsand the rookie recently received praise from Los Angeles Clippers striker Paul George.
Whitmore spent much of the first half of the season in the G League with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. He finally saw extended playing time with the Rockets in early January and became a key rotation player for coach Ime Udoka.
George, speaking recently on his podcastbelieves Whitmore has had a good run and deserves to remain in the Rockets’ rotation this year and beyond.
I was extremely impressed with his playing (when we played them). … He’s a player that I think is going to shake up some things in Houston and can be a star player. I’ve seen fame from both sides. He played hard on both ends. He can shoot it. He can manage. He’s explosive. He was strong.
He had a nastiness about him that you don’t really see in a lot of really young guys. He was trying to challenge me. He challenged Kawhi (Leonard). He’s a name that I think, because he’s a rookie, hasn’t gotten a lot of media coverage, but he’ll be good and he’s good now.
The 20th pick is averaging 13.4 points and 4.3 rebounds on 36.4 percent 3-point shooting in 31 games since entering the rotation. He recorded four 20-point games, including a career-high 25 points and six rebounds on February 2.
Whitmore is currently treat a ligament sprain in the right knee and is expected to miss at least three weeks. Before his injury, he was playing his best basketball of the season and performing at a high level with the team.
He should have the opportunity to continue logging heavy minutes once he is cleared to return, with the Rockets likely without Tari Eason (leg) and Alperen Sengun (ankle) for the remainder of the season.
