Exclusive: Rockets' Cam Whitmore Displays G League Development vs. Mavericks

Hours after rejoining the Houston Rockets, rookie forward Cam Whitmore displayed his G League developments against the Dallas Mavericks.

ORLANDO — Cam Whitmore was one of a handful of players the Houston Rockets recalled from the G League Friday morning, and nearly 12 hours later, he contributed to their 122-96 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. 

Whitmore played 14 minutes and notched a career-best 14 points on 6 of 12 shooting, four rebounds and a pair of steals inside the Toyota Center.

The Rockets already had the game in hand by the time he subbed in for Jalen Green with two minutes left in the third quarter. But 14 minutes was enough for Whitmore to showcase his development since he joined the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

"I just used my minutes to show how useful I can be," Whitmore said. "Just trying to be productive while helping my team as much as possible and doing my best while I am out there."

Rockets forward Cam Whitmore brings the ball up the court during the game against the Indiana Pacers at Toyota Center / Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Whitmore has spent his entire rookie season honing his talents with the Vipers. He has appeared in 13 games, proving why he could be the biggest steal of the 2023 NBA Draft, where he fell to the Rockets with the 20th selection.

Whitmore was a projected top-10 pick who did not understand how he slipped outside the lottery. No team disputed his talents. 

But Whitmore's injury history became the reason behind his diminished stock. He was unfazed by the number of teams that passed on his services and described the draft as "the best day" of his life on June 22. 

But the 19-year-old former Villanova prospect vowed to use the draft night snub as motivation.

Six months later, he is leading the G League in scoring, averaging 26.2 points, while meeting coach Ime Udoka's challenge of improving his defense. Whitmore has recorded 6.8 rebounds while tied for ninth in the league after registering 2.1 steals.

"He looked good," Udoka said. "He is always going to be aggressive. His recognition of the defense, he knows what we are doing. He is making the right read with quicker decisions. That's what we wanted, with less ball stopping. I think he has grown well."

Before rejoining the Rockets, Whitmore scored a team-high 19 points while adding nine rebounds and two steals amid the Vipers' loss to the Rip City Remix Thursday night. Inside the Rockets' Isaiah DeAnda Delgado had a chance to catch up with Whitmore at the conclusion of the G League Showcase in Orlando.

When reflecting on your game from college to the G League, where do you feel you made the biggest improvements?

“I would say from college, decision making. Offensively and defensively. But as you know, just growth and maturity, just for my body from my mind, my I.Q."

Since joining the Vipers, what area of your game have you worked on the most? And has there been anything easier than you anticipated on the NBA/G League level?

"I’d say decision making, I put a lot of work in my shot, just getting reps up...The floor opened up pretty well. That's really the difference from college here in the NBA."

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What have you learned is the different in limited NBA minutes versus your experience in the G League?

"I'll say in the G League, me getting some reps, me getting up, getting comfortable on the NBA floor, NBA atmosphere. So that's the biggest thing I work on, and just on the defensive side, just being low man help side. And just being active and aware." 

What are some of the goals you have set for yourself here with the Vipers?

"Defense. When I get on that floor, I'm going to focus on defense, and offense will take care of itself. I know I’ve got that down pat, but defense is what gets you on the floor, so I've got to do what the coach asks.”