With their first selection (No. 4) in the 2023 NBA draft, the Houston Rockets brought in athleticism, playmaking and defense by picking Overtime Elite point guard Amen Thompson.
For their second choice at No. 20 in the first round, they added shooting and scoring … with a prospect some had projected to be picked ahead of Thompson just a few days earlier.
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Villanova forward Cam Whitmore, who most analysts expected to go in the top five, somehow slipped to Houston at No. 20. Initial reactions suggested Whitmore may have had a medical concern.
In one season at Villanova, Whitmore averaged 12.5 points (47.8% FG, 34.3% shooting), 5.3 rebounds and 27.3 minutes. At 18 years old, he’s one of the 2023 draft’s youngest prospects.
Stay tuned to Rockets Wire for further updates throughout Thursday’s draft night, as Rockets general manager Rafael Stone will take media questions once both rounds conclude. For now, here’s a look at immediate reaction by NBA analysts and fans to the Whitmore pick.
Cam Whitmore to Houston at No. 20.
Seems to be medical concerns causing his slide, but Houston could land a serious value here. Villanova product is one of the most impressive scorers in the draft.
Bit of a draft-night shocker. More
@chron https://t.co/xFl5WDIxjq
— Michael Shapiro (@mshap2) June 23, 2023
Trading Eric Gordon allowed the #Rockets to swap and end up with the 20th pick, which turned into Cam Whitmore. That doesn’t happen if EG doesn’t play well enough to be desirable on the trade market. Thank you for your service @TheofficialEG10 https://t.co/BtmnqGukMB
— Roosh (@RooshWilliams) June 23, 2023
The #Rockets got a top-8 prospect with some of the highest upside in the entire draft… at pick 20.
He doesn’t even have to contribute next season. He can go to the G-Leauge until he’s ready to contribute.
LOVE the pick here by Rafael Stone. Absolutely killed the draft.
— ᵂᴵᴸᴸ (@BiasedHouston) June 23, 2023
There were reports the Rockets were interested in Cam Whitmore at 4 but he falls to their lap at 20.
I can only imagine Rafael Stone and the front office are doing backflips
— Chancellor Johnson (@ChancellorTV) June 23, 2023
Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore, two Top-10, some may say Top-5 prospects, and Houston did not have to trade a single pick.
The Houston Rockets have won this draft so far.
— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) June 23, 2023
What a great night for the Rockets.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) June 23, 2023
Shouldn’t forget the shrewd GM work from Rafael Stone to land Whitmore here.
Dealt Eric Gordon and the Bucks’ first-rounder (became No. 30) for the Clippers’ first rounder (No. 20). Whitmore fell, and Stone was in position to land a lottery talent.
— Michael Shapiro (@mshap2) June 23, 2023
So I guess Cam Whitmore is part of the James Harden trade
— Adam Spolane (@AdamSpolane) June 23, 2023
Whitmore slid to 20 because of concerns with his physicals, per source, but Houston felt confident in moving forward with the selection after their pre-draft process. https://t.co/WERrcrfFHL
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) June 23, 2023
Getting Amen Thompson AND Cam Whitmore is unreal. Wow.
— Vanessa Richardson (@SportsVanessa) June 23, 2023
This feels like the 2021 Draft.
Felt like Houston walked away with two Top 7 prospects that night in Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun and have that same feeling now.
— Salman Ali (@SalmanAliNBA) June 23, 2023
Cam is going to play with a chip on his shoulder his entire NBA career because of where he was drafted…#Sarge
— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) June 23, 2023
Coming out of this draft with Amen Thompson AND Cam Whitmore is a helluva consolation prize
— B.Scott (@brandonkscott) June 23, 2023
God bless the Rockets for choosing to bump up 10 spots in the Eric Gordon trade.
Incredibly important in hindsight.
— Salman Ali (@SalmanAliNBA) June 23, 2023
OH MY GOD HOW IS THIS REAL LIFE AMEN THOMPSON AND CAM WHITMORE IN THE SAME DRAFT WTFFFFFFFFF
— RedNinetyFour (@RedNinetyFour) June 23, 2023
I understand the health concerns but goddamn that’s a ton of athleticism and upside with Cam Whitmore and Amen Thompson. Houston should be pleased.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) June 23, 2023
Amen Thompson, Cam Whitmore, Jalen Green…man the Rockets athleticism is unreal. But they’re all so raw, question is how much it translates to winning basketball.
— Kevin O’Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) June 23, 2023
Rockets young core:
Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, Amen Thompson, and Cam Whitmore.
Wow. Very impressive.
— RedNinetyFour (@RedNinetyFour) June 23, 2023
Nba dot com’s consensus draft had Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore going 4 & 5 in the draft.
The Rockets just got them at 4 and 20. pic.twitter.com/cYpeIbTs1T
— Taylor Pate (@taylorlpate) June 23, 2023
Three years of tanking from the Houston Rockets:
‘21 Jalen Green & Alperen Sengun
‘22 Jabari Smith & Tari Eason
‘23 Amen Thompson & Cam WhitmoreMore talent than Rafael Stone likely could’ve hoped for. This is the route they went with post-Harden and it looks promising #Rockets
— John Crumpler (@JohnHCrumpler) June 23, 2023
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