NBA Draft 2023: Scoot Henderson picked at No 3 overall by the Portland Trail Blazers

Scoot Henderson has been picked at No 3 overall in the 2023 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Georgia-born point guard, 19, has spent the last two years with the NBA G League Ignite, after signing a $1million, two-year deal in May 2021.

The general Draft consensus was that the Hornets would choose either Henderson or Brandon Miller, but they landed on the latter Thursday night after holding a series of meetings earlier in the day.

Both players had worked out in front of wantaway owner Michael Jordan earlier in the week, and the team were split on who to draft heading into the Draft in Brooklyn.

Interestingly, the franchise went for Miller, meaning the Trail Blazers swooped in to take Henderson with the following pick. 

Scoot Henderson has been picked at No 3 overall in the NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers

He expressed his excitement of teaming up with the Trail Blazers, especially Damian Lillard

The 19-year-old had also been expected to have been under consideration by the Hornets

But Henderson seemed unfazed at not being selected second as he expressed his excitement of teaming up with the Trail Blazers, especially Damian Lillard. 

‘Yeah, I’m hoping to get to play with Dame, for sure,’ he said. ‘Special talent, special guard. One of my favorites to watch, especially film-wise. Just to pick out how he moves off the court, as well. Yeah, it would be cool to play with him.’ 

He was also very confident as he backed his skills when asked what the Blazers can expect from him on ESPN.  

‘They’re getting a dog,’ Henderson said. ‘They’re getting a dog that’s gonna come in and be hungry. 

‘I’m young, but I’ve got a mature mindset, and that’s to work and to come in and make a real impact, not just the basketball side, but the community. So they’re getting a special player, a special person.’ 

Miller, the 20-year-old former Alabama star, is one of the more controversial inclusions in this year’s event after his involvement in a shooting that resulted in the death of 23-year-old Jamea Harris earlier this year.

Tuscaloosa police testified that Miller delivered a handgun to teammate Darius Miles, which was ultimately used by another man, Michael Lynn Davis, to kill the woman.

While Miles and Davis remain in jail awaiting trail on capital murder charges, Miller has not been arrested in the case. His attorney says he never handled the firearm and did not have any idea that the shooting would take place. Miller’s coach, Nate Oats, said it was a case of ‘wrong spot, wrong time.’

Henderson speaks to the media ahead of the NBA Draft as he awaited news of his fate

Henderson has played the last two years on a $1million deal with NBA G League Ignite

Henderson poses in Times Square during Draft week, ahead of being picked at No 2 overall

Brandon Miller was another option for the Hornets, but they opted against the Alabama star

French phenom Victor Wembanyama went No 1 overall, as expected, to the San Antonio Spurs

When questioned about his future in basketball, Miller said: ‘NBA teams kinda did their background on me and they kinda found out that I was a great guy, great character.

‘I don’t think they’re really worried about the character part of it now. I think it’s just basketball now.’

Henderson, meanwhile, was also picked behind Victor Wembanyama from the 2023 Draft class, with the 7-foot-4 Frenchman heading to the San Antonio Spurs at No 1 as widely expected.