Cam may be at his whits end…
Summarizing Cam Whitmore’s 2024-2025 shouldn’t take long. He played in 51 games; he started three of them. He averaged 16.2 minutes per game, 9.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.0 assist per game. He shot 44.4 percent from the field and 35.5 percent from the three-point line on 11.5 field goal attempts per game.
Needless to say, Houston Rockets fans were disappointed in Cam Whitmore’s sophomore season, regardless of where they place the blame. Some feel Cam Whitmore’s lack of attention to detail defensively was to blame, others blame coach Ime Udoka for not playing him more.
Wherever you fall in the Cam Whitmore blame game, there’s little doubt that the Rockets coaches, players, and most of all Cam Whitmore himself are more disappointed than you are. Cam Whitmore has no poker face. He wasn’t happy most of the season and everyone could see it.
His attempts at cryptic messaging in answering questions to the media were pretty uncomfortable to witness, and not much demonstrated the separation between head coach and player than when Cam would be asked what the coaching staff had communicated to him that he would need to do to earn more minutes, and he would respond… “I don’t know.”
According to Ime Udoka he was often “caught off guard” by that response from Whitmore, because by his estimation he and Cam have had “many conversations” about his role and expectations. The coach also acknowledged that with Tari Eason being healthy, and so many other players playing vital roles in a very crowded rotation, playing time for Whitmore would be a challenge to come by. However, he always emphasized that his players know what they need to do to earn minutes on the court.
So, the question Rockets fans want to know is how much of Cam Whitmore’s limited playing time is due to the roster depth, and how much is because the coaches are unhappy with his development? I would strongly be led to believe the latter, because of the simple fact that with Cam Whitmore’s raw talent on the offensive end and the Rockets inability to score at times, surely, if he were meeting the expectations of the coaches, he’d average more than 16 minutes per-game and play in more than just a little over half the seasons games.
What is the solution? In reality only Ime Udoka and Cam Whitmore know the answer to that question. What I do know is this… where there is smoke, usually there is fire. 19 teams passed up on Cam Whitmore in the 2023 NBA Draft, including the Rockets at number four. Considering his off the charts athleticism and the fact that at 20 years old he is built like seasoned vet, a true man amongst boys… something is off.
I will offer the same benefit of the doubt I have offered Jalen Green. This young man is two years removed from being a child. He is a little awkward. His demeanor seams at times laissez-faire, which I unprofessionally mind you, have diagnosed as a defense mechanism. I believe Cam Whitmore wants to play basketball and I believe he wants to be great at it. What I don’t know is how well he communicates his needs, or how well he is able to receive the communication of his coach.
Ime Udoka is going to be Ime Udoka. He doesn’t strike me as the type of coach who will change up who he is to placate to one individual on the team, regardless of how talented that player might be. So, one of two things will have to happen. Cam Whitmore will have to continue to “suck it up” as it were and work hard against whatever natural characteristic he has that is keeping him from fitting into Udoka’s plan, or both sides will have to come to the conclusion that perhaps they just aren’t a good fit together.
Optimistically, I hope for the previous. I would love to see Cam overcome the adversity he has faced since draft day, and prove not only to the Rockets, their fans, and the NBA as a whole, but more importantly prove to himself that he can play in this league and play for a demanding coach like Ime Udoka. From the day he was drafted by the Rockets it has been known that he could be a player that puts this Rockets team over the top if he is able to reach full potential while playing for this team.
Next season will be big for Cam. Right now, many believe he is primed to be a piece in a potential trade for a “superstar”. His name is involved in every single rumor there is out there. I don’t know if he ever Google’s his own name and stumbles across these articles, but I’ll say this. Cam, if you’re reading this, I want you to know that in life, everything worth having you will have to run through fire for it. You young man, have gone through more fire than we know about, I’m sure. Hang in there kid. The people are not disappointed because they don’t believe in you. It’s because they know how great you can be. How great you will be… hopefully while still playing on 1510 Polk St.