NBA ALL-STAR RISING STARS POSTGAME

February 16, 2024

Scoot Henderson

Team Tamika

Press Conference

Team Jalen 40, Team Tamika 35

SCOOT HENDERSON: Playing with (Matisse Thybulle), I'm just glad that we're on the same team because he's in the passing lane like nobody else. He's the best to do it. He's been on All-Defensive Teams for a reason. I see that now that I'm in the league rather than watching it from afar. Just the little things he does in practice and the little things he does in games that really impacts it.

Against Denver, man, like three, four steals in a row. That's just like, sometimes he amazes me, and I'm like how? Only one person in the world has that type of talent, and it's him.

Q. Scoot, talk about that little hesi-fake you had in the layup.

SCOOT HENDERSON: The first one I had shot like a fallback. I was like, he's definitely going to go for this. I was about to shoot it, though, but he came up so far. It was Chet, and he's pretty long. There was no way he could jump and get that far back. I was like, let's hurry, let's go to the rim.

Walker came over and I tried to go around him. Great shot blocker, so I tried to go around him. Finish over him and things like that.

Q. This is your third Rising Stars game. Talk about your excitement from the first one to this. Is it the same?

SCOOT HENDERSON: I think it is the same. My first year, I was like oh my goodness, it's finally over with. I'm here. But my first year as a rookie, it's just a bit different. The fact that I'm in the league and a point guard in this league and a rookie or whatever. So just trying to go out there and have fun.

Q. What do you remember from that first time with Ignite?

SCOOT HENDERSON: I remember not getting the ball like mad possessions in a row. I remember hitting a shot over my teammate, and that's about it. And also getting my name called on stage, and everybody was like "Scooooot!" That was my first time ever hearing that.

Q. The game really appears to be slowing down for you in the NBA. What's been the biggest key for that now? You're really starting to hit your stride now.

SCOOT HENDERSON: I think just learning all my lessons early was very great for me as an individual and as a point guard on a young team. Ever since I learned those lessons, I just try never to go back to them.

All the film watching I'm doing with Pooh Jeter, Scottie, it's been great. Just learning on the fly really.