NBA DRAFT

June 22, 2023

Cam Whitmore

Q. Obviously a lot of mock drafts had you within the top 10 of the draft, and so you slid a little bit here. Can you tell me where you thought you were going to go and how it feels to go No. 20?

CAM WHITMORE: I have no idea where I was going to go. Every time it kept counting down, just didn't know where to go. Still, I was praying. I was really talking to God the whole entire time, for real. It is what it is. I was in Houston, training just in Houston. So it's time to go back.

Q. Houston obviously was a team that had considered you at 4. What is it like to end up going there with all those young guys?

CAM WHITMORE: I mean, it's the same thing. I'm young, too, so just another piece to add to the table, add to the recipe they've got going on. Just happy to be a part of that program, that organization. Just a lot of rebuilding that has to be going on, but it doesn't really faze me. At the end of the day, I'm just ready to be a Rocket.

Q. What were your emotions like as you waited, and then to finally hear your name, could you take us through what that was like?

CAM WHITMORE: Different feeling, but then again, it's the same feeling. I've been overlooked a lot of times in my life, so it didn't really faze me. I'm just really happy to be in the NBA. I've been dreaming about that all my life. Just really grateful for my parents just being there, my friends, family. I mean, everybody is here. The best day of my life. Just really the start.

Q. You said you've been overlooked a lot in your life. When this happens to you tonight, how does this motivate you?

CAM WHITMORE: It motivates me to like 150 percent to -- I don't even know. It's just something where I've got to rethink, go in the next day, new mind, free mind. Coming into that organization with a chip on my shoulder, have a lot of motivation on my mind.

At the end of the day, it doesn't really faze me. I know I'm different than everybody else, but it's just another chapter in my life, another step in the journey. Time to get to work.

Q. In a weird kind of way (no microphone) always keep finding a way to get by?

CAM WHITMORE: I mean, I've been go-getting -- like it doesn't even matter, just in general. Just trying to get better every day, learning about myself on and off the floor. It's definitely something that's been on my mind, but just can't let it faze me. That's really it.

Q. How do you envision fitting in with the rest of the young talent that the Houston Rockets have?

CAM WHITMORE: I mean, everybody is versatile. Literally just drafted Amen. He's a great player, great athlete. Somebody who I can definitely play alongside. I'm just definitely looking forward to it. So that versatility type of area, I can definitely just add to the table.

Q. There are reports that there were questionable medicals with you. Are there any health issues?

CAM WHITMORE: No, I promise you there's not. I have no idea. I don't know what happened. But I feel fine. It's my body. If they think it's something different, they have their own opinions. But at the end of the day, it's my body.

Q. Not thinking too far into the future about Houston, but just the idea of playing with other explosive, dynamic guards, in general, how do you think your talents can merge with those talents to create something special?

CAM WHITMORE: I mean, like I said, everybody can do everything on the floor. Defend, run the floor, rebound, block shots, they can shoot. That's just an advantage. Everybody is an athlete. So there's a lot of run and jump. Run up the floor, that's my play style. I think it will be a great fit with those guys, definitely.

Q. What do you know about Houston as a city, and what do you know about the Rockets basketball history at this point?

CAM WHITMORE: Well, I just left Houston. I've been there since about a month and a half, just training there with Leo and also training with Aaron Miller. It's time to go back, get right back to work. That's really it.