Who’s Scoot Henderson? That’s the query that a variety of NBA normal managers have been researching in latest months. The reply is complicated, although, and relies on who you ask. The 19-year-old has lofty expectations for himself, one thing you’d anticipate from a projected top-three decide of the 2023 NBA Draft.
“My most important objective is to grow to be probably the greatest level guards to ever play the sport,” says the Marietta, GA native. That’s what retains me persevering with to work and by no means being stagnant.”
The 6-foot-2 guard has taken the unconventional path to the NBA. Regardless of being a highschool pupil, Scoot made the daring determination to reclassify and graduate a yr early, foregoing conventional highschool experiences like homecoming and senior promenade to pursue his goals. For many highschool gamers, school is seen as the standard stepping stone to the NBA, however for Henderson, the standard path was not sufficient. He selected as a substitute to affix the G-League Ignite and skip school totally, taking a calculated danger that he hopes will repay in the long term.
“I believe I must be the No. 1 decide, simply due to who I’m,” says Henderson, who averaged 16.5 factors, 6.8 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals per recreation for the Ignite this season. “And I’m going to proceed to get higher, and I’m going to proceed to wish to get higher. I’m by no means going to wish to be stagnant ever.”
Whereas this determination was undoubtedly a sacrifice, it speaks to Henderson’s unwavering dedication to his goals and his willingness to take dangers to realize them. In June 2022, Scoot Henderson signed a multi-year endorsement cope with PUMA. His star energy continues to rise, as he joins the model’s rising roster of proficient younger athletes — which incorporates the likes of LaMelo Ball, Breanna Stewart and Deandre Ayton.
“The way in which me and Puma acquired linked was round All-Star weekend final yr, the place I used to be blessed to be part of,” says the top-three projected decide for the 2023 NBA Draft. ‘And it was clearly totally different manufacturers reaching out and stuff, nevertheless it was simply one thing that caught out to me about Puma, and that was how household oriented they have been.”
Billboard lately caught up with Scoot Henderson to debate his distinctive journey to the NBA, the sources of his motivation and his thrilling partnership with PUMA.
So, Scoot, man, first issues first. How are you feeling? Are you good?
Yeah, I’m good. I’m good. I’ve simply been chilling, engaged on the facet slightly bit since I’ve been sitting out for the rest of the season.
We’ll begin there. I’m positive you’re within the gymnasium lots. So, when it’s time to work out and lock-in on the gymnasium, what album or playlist are you throwing on?
Yeah, more often than not it’s just a few Lil Child, however lately I’ve been studying books and stuff, and I’ve been on the lookout for songs to get me in an excellent temper. So, I’ve been listening to a variety of older songs. I’ve all the time had an previous soul, however lately I’ve simply been listening to a variety of older songs, as a result of they only make me completely satisfied.
Being a younger star your self, who’s one artist within the hip-hop world that you’d say is the Scoot Henderson of the hip-hop recreation?
I believe it’ll be Lil Child. Simply how he began off sturdy and he’s persevering with to be nice. So, I believe he’s continued to work and each time he will get higher. I believe that’s the equal.
I heard that you simply lately hooped with 21 Savage, and Lil Child adopted you on Instagram. Are you able to discuss in regards to the relationship you will have with each of these guys and the way you linked up with them?
Actually, I don’t actually have any loopy relationship with both of them — however Lil Child, that shocked me when he adopted me. He texted me, and simply gave me a couple of phrases of encouragement. That’s in all probability our solely textual content message in our telephone, and he in all probability texted me one time after that. I believe it’s simply actual mutual. Our individuals know one another, however our schedules conflict lots. So, every time we’re on the identical place, we strive our hardest to get an image.
After which 21 Savage, that was my first time assembly him. Me and my household, we have been all the time big followers of 21, ever since he began actually. Me and my sister and my different siblings, we have been all massive into 21. He simply so occurred to be figuring out at Georgia Tech, after we had a recreation at Faculty Park. I simply needed to go get some photographs up earlier than the sport the following day. So, we noticed them figuring out on the opposite facet, so I simply requested for an image.
What have been these phrases of encouragement that Child gave you whenever you guys spoke for that transient time interval?
It was actually simply to proceed what I’m doing, and he was simply saying, “keep centered, maintain going up.” And people have been his phrases. CBFW, and meaning “Can’t Be Messed With.” It’s one thing that he has happening. I can’t actually say the phrase, the F phrase.
What are a number of the targets and expectations you will have for your self and in your profession? Give me a few of these expectations you will have for your self.
I believe my most important targets are to proceed to do what I’m doing actually, and simply proceed to get higher. My most important objective is to grow to be probably the greatest level guards to ever play the sport. That’s my most important objective, and what retains me persevering with to work and by no means being stagnant. At all times simply getting higher.
After which clearly making a pair all-star appearances. No matter God blessed me with, that’s how I’m happening about it.
Your title may be very sizzling within the NBA Draft rooms proper now. You’ve been in comparison with gamers corresponding to prime Derrick Rose, John Wall, Russell Westbrook, and so on. Do you see any similarities in your recreation to any of these three, and does that put any stress on you to attempt to reside as much as these expectations?
I don’t wish to be in comparison with anyone or something like that. So, it’s actually simply getting higher day-after-day, stuff like that. I don’t wish to be in contrast. So, I simply proceed what I’m doing, and that’s simply figuring out man.
And that’s the way you get higher. And like I mentioned, I don’t wish to be in comparison with anyone, so I simply maintain myself from all these comparisons to simply proceed to be who I’m as an individual as properly.
And talking of stress, you performed a nationally televised recreation on ESPN with just about each NBA scout onsite. You had Chris Paul and Devin Booker in attendance. Are you able to simply talk about that second and what you needed to show to the world about who Scoot Henderson actually is?
I believe I’ve all the time been ignored in my life, and all the time being the underdog in a variety of conditions. So, I believe that was simply my time to make a stand for myself and present individuals what I’ve been engaged on for years now. And I simply got here in that recreation with a variety of confidence, man. And that’s how I come into each recreation. That’s how I’m going into each exercise. Figuring out, it simply boosts that.
I got here in with an edge on my shoulder to essentially not show something as a result of I don’t have something to show to no person, however simply to let individuals know who I’m. And me and my dad, we talked about it, about simply how issues was once, however now like that recreation, how televised it was and CP being there, A’ja Wilson, it simply put me on that stage that I all the time needed to be on.
NextPlay360. I do know that title resonates with you a large number. What does that facility imply to you, and extra importantly, how do you’re feeling that’s helped you turn into the participant that you’re immediately?
Yeah, that I believe that NextPlay, it’s nearly like my life man. The final 5 years it has simply been my life. And simply me going there, getting there day-after-day, all day, being my second house — it means lots to me, and it means lots to the neighborhood as properly. We’re nonetheless constructing proper now, we simply acquired it reworked, the court docket was redone and all of that stuff. So, we’re nonetheless making upgrades, and actually simply making an attempt to make it an amazing neighborhood heart for whoever’s locally, and even outsiders that want to return in and get an excellent session of coaching and upkeep. And it’s additionally similar to I mentioned, a neighborhood factor the place it’s additionally for youths and STEM and all of that.
So, I believe it’s not only a gymnasium, I believe it has extra issues than the common gymnasium would. How we’re to the children that’s coming in, with simply the exercises and simply being round individuals, man, that actually helps in a youngsters’ life as a result of I used to be in a loving setting that introduced me in and embraced me. So, that’s simply one thing that I’m used to. I’ve all the time needed to present again, and I believe the gymnasium is an ideal technique to do it.
You signed a multi-year endorsement cope with PUMA. Speak about your determination to signal with Puma — and has there been talks of you popping out with your personal shoe?
The way in which me and PUMA acquired linked was round All-Star weekend final yr, the place I used to be blessed to be part of – and it was clearly totally different manufacturers reaching out and stuff, nevertheless it was simply one thing that caught out to me about PUMA, and that was how household oriented they have been. And understanding me, how I’m an enormous household individual, that I all the time need my household to be included in issues, a variety of different manufacturers, they didn’t actually present that to me, simply being round it.
However man, PUMA has been such an enormous assist to not simply me, however my entire household, my neighborhood, and so they’re upcoming, and I believe we type of matched out. So, PUMA can be getting again into the combination of being, clearly they’re one of many high manufacturers proper now, however I believe I may simply actually assist in an enormous approach.
And the discuss of the shoe, we’re going to have one thing hopefully within the subsequent few years. We’re nonetheless speaking about stuff like that, how we may influence the youth after which the tradition. So, we would have one thing coming within the subsequent few years.
I do know you’ve worn a variety of totally different PUMAs this yr. Which is your favourite one to rock in the meanwhile, on court docket or off the court docket?
I believe my favourite on courts proper now might be the Stewie 1’s. I like low tops — I’m a low high individual — so the Stewie 1’s are actually robust, and the way detailed they’re, man. Should you actually have a look at the shoe, you may see all the main points on it. You may see the little scar that she had on her again of her heel or no matter. Simply all these little particulars, they actually stood out to me. And a variety of good, cool colorways too.
Then I additionally just like the TRC Blazers. They’re type of like mid tops, however I’m an enormous fan of these. They acquired a variety of colorways that Puma sends, and I’m loving them proper now.
I do know you only recently participated within the NBA Rising Stars recreation and performed final yr as properly. Have been you capable of join with any of the opposite stars that have been there that weekend?
I didn’t actually discuss to anyone there. I talked to a variety of the younger stars that have been there, and a variety of my individuals have been in the identical place on the identical time. However I lately talked to Steph Curry like January, late January, and that was a blessing, man, simply him calling my telephone. And it type of shocked me nearly.
However it was a dope expertise to have Steph Curry calling my telephone and provides me some phrases of encouragement. Me and my little sister really, giving us some phrases of encouragement, simply telling us to proceed to work and proceed doing what I’m doing, and it doesn’t get simpler.
From the skin trying in, vogue appears to be an enormous a part of who you might be as an individual. The place would you say that you simply acquired your fashion from, and who evokes you within the vogue world?
I believe it was once I was youthful. I’ve seen the entire music movies and stuff like that — simply seeing these guys have enjoyable, do no matter they wish to do. So, simply being part of that tradition, it’s one thing that impressed me be lots.
And I had no person particularly, however simply watching the basketball gamers and stuff like that — Russell Westbrook, how totally different he was and the way assured he was in his put on. I believe that’s actually the primary factor that impressed me. I simply proceed to have enjoyable with it. I don’t know if it’s simply one thing that I grew curiosity for within the final couple of years. Not simply dressing up, however simply having one thing on, having good fashion and an excellent style in garments, and it’s simply one thing that I may additionally converse for myself, the way it type of represents my recreation.