Blazers' Scoot Henderson sets lofty goals: 'I will win Rookie of the Year'

Portland Trail Blazers rookie Scoot Henderson has never lackedconfidence.

“I can really do anything, honestly — anything I put my mindto," Henderson told Basketball News' SpencerDavies back when he was 17 years old. "My confidence iscrazy."

He's not wrong. After becoming the youngest professional playerin NBA G League history and shining with the G League Ignite, hewas selected No. 3 overall in the 2023 NBA Draft.

Now, he's setting a new goal for himself: Rookie of theYear.

While all eyes will be on San Antonio Spurs phenom VictorWembanyama entering the 2023-24 NBA season, Henderson isn't backingdown. Wemby may be the most hyped-up prospect since LeBron James,but Henderson believes he can win Rookie of the Year.

"My goal, obviously, is to win Rookie of the Year. And Iwill win Rookie of the Year," Henderson told Playmaker. "That's just a mindset,a manifestation that I kind of grew. Never doubted myself, makingsure I'm always putting good energy in the air, making sure I'mtelling myself, 'I'm gonna have a great rookie season.'

"I'm not saying I want to have a great rookie season,I'mma have a great rookie season. I'mma have a great career. I willhave a great career and [I'm] making sure that's always in pasttense because it happened."

pic.twitter.com/vbzvvcJDxH

— James Burnes (@JamesBurnes8) August 8, 2023

The Blazers will likely give Henderson the keys to theiroffense, and he'll every opportunity to put up big numbers inPortland. Henderson currently has the third-best odds in theRookie-of-the-Year race across the major sportsbooks (FanDuel,DraftKings, Caesars, PointsBet and BetMGM). Wembanyama is thefavorite, while Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren has thesecond-best odds.

Holmgren was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, butmissed all of last season due to a Lisfranc injury in his rightfoot that required surgery. That means Holmgren is eligible to winthe Rookie of the Year award this season (similar to when BenSimmons won the ROY award in 2017-18 or when Blake Griffin won itin 2010-11).

But Rookie of the Year isn't the only lofty goal that Hendersonhas set for himself. He also said that he wants to be the GOAT andthe "most influential player" for the next generation when all issaid and done.

"[I want] to be the best point guard in the game, [the best] toever play. That's my goal... When people think of Scoot Henderson,I want them to think of the best player to ever play the game,"Henderson said. "But you can only do that by being the best versionof yourself, so that's what I'm working on now."

Check out the full conversation with Henderson below:

“I will win rookie of the year”Portland Trailblazers' Scoot Henderson (@thereal013)didn’t take the traditional pathway to the NBA that most playersdo. As the youngest professional EVER in the G League he was ableto not only figure himself out, but his game as well.Watch… pic.twitter.com/HkMObZ6m4H

— Playmaker (@playmaker) August 7, 2023