Though a younger team, the Houston Rockets have a relatively deep rotation. As a result, there were bound to be a couple of talented players getting fewer minutes than they wanted. With that being said, not many could have anticipated 2023 draft steal Cam Whitmore being sent to down to the G League less than 10 games into the season.
Rockets assign Cam Whitmore to RGV Vipers in the G League. Whitmore has been out of the rotation the past two games, playing last night when the benches were cleared.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) November 7, 2024
With Whitmore averaging 6.1 points (on 38.6 percent shooting from the field and 5.6 percent shooting from three) and 1.6 rebounds in 10.6 minutes per game in 2024-25, more people probably should’ve seen it coming though. For reference, he averaged 12.3 points (on 45.4 percent shooting from the field and 35.9 percent shooting from three) and 3.8 rebounds in 18.7 minutes per game last season.
What’s Next For Rockets Draft Steal Cam Whitmore After Falling Out Of Rotation?
The seeming regression from Whitmore’s rookie to sophomore year could be overstated given that he’s only played seven games.
However, there does appear to be a correlation between his playing time and that of Jalen Green’s. In a vacuum, this suggests that Rockets head coach Ime Udoka has been relying on Green more as the season goes on. Considering the way that Udoka used Whitmore in 2023-24, that connection makes even more sense. When Green was struggling last season, Udoka had no issues with quickly pivoting away from him.
Whitmore was one of the players who was able to step up in those moments.
To be clear, Green hasn’t been particularly efficient this season. He’s shooting a career-low 39.7 percent from the field. Yet, he’s knocked down a career-high 38.2 percent of his threes. He’s playing with a better pace and making better decisions. His effort has improved across the board and so much so that he’s consistently been a strong defender.
Ultimately, Udoka has less of a reason to pull Green out of the game than he did last year. At the same time, Whitmore’s slip in his performance gives Udoka less of a reason to put him in the game. It’s still surprising to see him fall completely out of the rotation.
Udoka has been using a nine-man rotation, which means someone would’ve felt like the odd man out regardless. Unfortunately for Whitmore, Green isn’t his only competition for playing time.
In the Rockets’ last two contests, Reed Sheppard has played 17.0 minutes per game while Whitmore was warming the bench. Prior to that, the 2024 No. 3 pick was averaging 8.4 minutes per game. Compared to the first five games, 2023 No. 3 pick Amen Thompson and 2022 No. 17 pick Tari Eason have seen their playing time rise by +10.0 and +9.8 minutes per game, respectively, over the last three games.
The advantages that all three of those players have over Whitmore are defense, which the Rockets pride themselves in under Udoka, and discipline.
Time To Look In The Mirror
Where does this leave Whitmore?
The 20-year-old is clearly the odd man out right now, but that doesn’t mean it’s permanent. A stint with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers could help him regain his footing offensively, taking a step towards stable minutes with the Rockets. Sheppard could hit the rookie wall. Green, Thompson, or Eason could go into a slump.
However, his G League assignment highlights his need to make more of an impact in other areas of the game. Whitmore is a walking highlight, ready to put anyone on a poster when he gets a head of steam. That’s not enough though. Like Green, he has to learn how to consistently play a mature brand of basketball and at both ends.
The Maryland native has shown enough flashes to make a case that he can be that type of player. Nonetheless, if there was any time that he needed to look in the mirror, it’s now.
