Rockets forward Cam Whitmore has been named the Las Vegas Summer League Most Valuable Player, the NBA announced (via Twitter).
The NBA also announced its All-Summer League First and Second Teams, which are as follows (Twitter links):
First Team
- Keyonte George, Jazz (Backcourt)
- Sam Merrill, Cavaliers (Backcourt)
- Orlando Robinson, Heat (Frontcourt)
- Hunter Tyson, Nuggets (Frontcourt)
- Cam Whitmore, Rockets (Frontcourt)
Second Team
- Max Christie, Lakers (Backcourt)
- Javon Freeman-Liberty, Bulls (Backcourt)
- Xavier Moon, Clippers (Backcourt)
- Emoni Bates, Cavaliers (Frontcourt)
- Jabari Smith, Rockets (Frontcourt)
- Jalen Wilson, Nets (Frontcourt)
According to the NBA (Twitter link), Christie and Moon received the same amount of votes, which is why there is an additional backcourt player on the second team.
Whitmore, a projected lottery pick in last month’s draft who fell to Houston at No. 20, averaged 20.4 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 2.2 APG and 3.0 SPG on .465/.293/.625 shooting in his five Vegas Summer League games, per NBA.com.
Houston faces Cleveland at 8 p.m. CT tonight in the Summer League championship game. Both teams are undefeated, holding identical 5-0 records.
Looking forward to tonight’s Summer League Final! From the little I saw of Houston’s Jabari Smith he seemed aggressive & unstoppable. Was my top pick in last year’s draft so I guess I’m biased.
Also played better down the stretch last season. Things are looking up for him.
teams are going to regret passing on Cam
Hard agree. Wish my Warriors had pulled the trigger at 19 that’s for sure. I like Podz’ attitude and passing vision but Cam’s athleticism and size would’ve been really nice on a team that was already too old and small to get to the WCF.
His primary issue may be his ability to consistently shoot from the perimeter. He will get some baskets at the rim, but not enough to survive. He will have to develop consistency, and if he does it will be a steal for Houston.
Cue everyone overreacting to SL for the millionth time.
I know people overreact to poor Summer League performance but i think Cam’s excellent performance is in some ways projectable for his NBA future:
1. He had a really high motor in every game. Maybe slipping to No 20 will be fuel for him.
2. He played really physical, aggressive defense and had a ton of steals. He rebounded like a power forward.
3. His handle was better than I thought it would be. When smaller guys guarded him on the perimeter, his in-out dribble going left was good enough to get to advantageous angles and basically bully smaller guys to the rim.
4. Like most Villanova products, he knows how to cut off ball, which is huge, because he’s athletic enough to throw down some ferocious dunks off back cuts and in transition.
5. His new Rockets coach (Ime) is a guy who loves burly, physical players and will probably give Cam a ton of freedom to grow and take some questionable perimeter shots as long as he plays like Marcus Smart as a switchable defender with passion on D.
Again, I know people overreact to SL but most that stuff he succeeded at is replicable in the regular season. He didn’t even shoot well in SL and yet he thrived.
His defense wasn’t that good. You can get away with it in summer league but in NBA teams always target the weakest defensive player. Now that its 6 fouls and you are out NBA season is much tougher.
His defense was that good though… and as one of the youngest guys in the nba, I think he’s shown the sky is the limit. Maybe go back and actually watch the games
He’s playing against other guys who are playing in SL… not exactly the competition you’d use to base guesses his potential in the NBA…
I did watch the games and he was out of position and gave up easy baskets. what impressed me with the Rockets is how well their players were shooting. They had a lot of good outside shooters.
And being out of position, giving up easy buckets, BBIQ, etc., were some of the biggest question marks for him coming out of the draft. In that regard, not much has changed. Frankly, it’s hardly surprising he would dominate SL with his ability to score and elite physical tools. I’m not sure what folks were expecting.
Not saying he won’t pan out, and he did show some positive things in SL. Just that the biggest questions have yet to be answered. And they will make all the difference.
Getting lots of steals does not always equal good defense. That’s empty box score calories.
His injury history and abysmal turnover rate are why he wasn’t taken higher. 5 summer league games isn’t changing those concerns.
No Summer League MVP since Dame in 2012 has turned into a star so it’s a bit early to say teams are gonna regret passing on this guy.
Without looking at the list, how many of the MVPs were also rookies? I’m guessing Dame was.
You should have just looked at the list. It was just as easy as typing this comment. And you would have learned that you didn’t need to make the comment because quite a few were rookies particularly the last 3.
Not been watching much but has Johnny Davis played at all
I saw him play against the Celtics and he did reasonably well but nothing to particularly stand out. I only noticed him because I was looking for him.
CW’s issue is whether he can stick on the perimeter (be principally a 3) or not (and be limited to being an undersized 4). The intriguing upside is as a 3. That’s going to be primarily about defense. Little that happens in the Summer League is applicable to that, one way or another. On offense, showing a better (some) ability to see the floor (his teammates) and faciliate would be a great sign.
Sam Merril is finally healthy and should be a rotation piece in Cleveland.
Rockets overalls have had a good offseason I think.
Udoka is a very good upgrade at coach.
Whitmore and Thomson in the draft was also very good. Free agency was weird. FVV basically got the max but for 2 years, Brooks at 22 mil reducing every year is weird. Odd personality and same position as a lot of other guys. Then Green and Landale both basically got 1 year deals.
Glad they didn’t go crazy and give Harden a 4 year max or something stupid but still not the best FA.
I think as the season goes on they will be active in the trade market. Udoka will be testing everyone out and making them earn their spots.
Throwing in my 2 cents, I wouldn’t mind seeing them go for KAT. Maybe something along the lines of KAT for KPJ, Sengun, Tate, Landale and a couple picks.
Think KAT gives them the ideal shooting they need to go with Jabari and Jalen. Then at the 3 Brooks, Eason and Whitmore give you options and depth. I know it won’t happen but I’d lean more towards Amen Thompson at the 1, I love his size and skill, the playmaking the handle the IQ, he’d be a great fit, but because of the contract and experience it’ll be FVV starting.
Maybe as the season goes on, FVV, KPJ, Tate, Green and picks for KAT and Conley.
zero chance fvv and green + picks is getting traded this season. Next off season maybe green but FVV will be in Houston for at least 2 years
Annndd with the 20th pick ….
in the 2023 NBA draft ……..
The Houston Rockets select ……..
Cam Whitmore ……….
Imo should have gone 6th.
Definitely top 10. So how dumb do these scouts look now.
Cam is a 3. A legit thick 3. He will get leaner as his career goes on. Only 19 he’s got plenty of upside. Wowser Rockets literally hit the lottery lols.
If Rockets want to move Tari Eason .
I sure hope Knicks get involved. He’s got a future …….
Summer League mvp means about as much as being the mvp at the Portsmouth Invitational.
Yeah that’s what you see in him. OK
link to basketball.realgm.com
Amazing that Isaiah Mobley wasn’t picked for either the 1st or 2nd team in Summer League. He played far better than his teammate Emoni Bates. Mobley pretty much did it all scoring, passing, blocking shots, rebounding and stealing the ball. He won the championship game MVP which is nice. That said if the tournament teams had been picked after the title game Mobley would have been picked.
Don’t you know it’s all rigged?
I’M just not that cynical yet. It must be hard to be that jaded.
It’s definitely a possibility
link to espn.com
I’M just not that cynical yet. It must be hard to be that jaded.