Instant Grades: Scoot Henderson prevails in first matchup vs. Victor Wembanyama

It was the Scoot Henderson show in the first half exhibition No. 1 between Metropolitans 92 and the G League Ignite, but a late push led by Victor Wembanyama made this an absolute nail-biter. Although the visiting team tied this game up early in the fourth quarter, the Ignite emerged victorious (122-115) on an unselfish performance from its star player.

This was only the first of two showcases between these two ballclubs. Given the outcome of this one, both teams are sure to bring a competitive fire when they meet again on Thursday afternoon.

If you need details on how to watch the second matchup on October, 6, check out the story below:

Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson both showcased superstar upside.

There are no losers between these elite NBA Draft prospects. With dozens of NBA scouts, players and executives in the building, each of the 30 teams left with at east one person thinking ‘These guys are going to give us hell as pros.’ Beyond reiterating what we already know about them, Scoot Henderson and Victor Wembanyama also showed maturity in their respective playstyles that is hard to come by amongst veteran players, let alone a pair of teenagers.

Wembanyama showed that his 3-point shooting is no aberration as Scoot flashed superb playmaking and decision-making with the ball in his hands. So how did they grade out?

Victor Wembanyama shakes off rust to cook G League Ignite in second half.

Final stat-line: 37 points (11-of-20, 7-of-11 from 3, 8-of-12 on FTs), five blocks, five fouls, four rebounds, one steal, one turnover.

Although the first few minutes of the game put NBA fans into a state of shock, Wembanyama took a while to start showing his full arsenal. The projected No. 1 pick truly came alive with his team down nearly 20 points at the start of the second half. The one-of-a-kind athlete standing at 7-foot-4 was dominant on both sides of the floor. He displayed complete control of the paint on defense and otherworldly shooting from deep.

With only nine of his 37 points at the half, Wembanyama knocked down seven triples in the game. To be quite frank, this was insane to watch. Never before has a player of his stature shown such fluidity, confidence and versatility as a 3-point shooter — and that’s not even his main draw as a player.

Defensively, Wembanyama was dominant. His mobility and versatility translated, knocking away several perimeter shots and altering a handful more in the process. He transformed the way that the Ignite operated every time he touched the court, forcing the team to second-think its decisions every time they attacked the basket.

For almost any other player in the world, this is an A+ performance. However, since Wembanyama is truly a generational prospect, there are a few things that held him back in this game. The first was that he appeared a bit timid during a stretch in the late first quarter and early second. It was his only lull of the game, but that’s when the Ignite got out to a big lead.

The second knock is that his team ultimately fell short. We know that Victor is a talented passer, and if he put that on display just a little bit more, his team might’ve come out with the win. And lastly, his foul trouble was an issue during crucial moments. Some of these calls were weak but others were clearly his fault, and that’s certainly going to be something to keep track of when he enters the NBA next season.

These are ultimately nitpicks since he’s (maybe) the best prospect I’ve ever seen in my life.

Victor Wembanyama earns an A- for his 1st outing vs. Scoot Henderson.

Scoot Henderson goes nuclear, contesting for Wembanyama for the No. 1 pick.

Final stat-line: 28 points (11-of-21, 2-of-3 from 3), nine assists, five rebounds, two steals, two turnovers, one foul.

Let’s make one thing absolutely clear: Scoot Henderson refuses to be denied. The 17-year-old showed out from his first possession, dazzling with a surreal combination of dribbling talent, stellar finishing and improved shot-making. That playmaking has clearly taken a step forward, as was put on full display during the entire second half. This is the key that secured an Ignite victory.

Henderson scored at all three levels, going directly at Wemanyama with every opportunity. That wasn’t only when the Parisian star got switched onto the perimeter either — Scoot went right at him near the basket and came up victorious on several drives. His 18 first-half points led the G League Ignite as they took a commanding 19-point lead to begin the competition.

Early into the contest, basketball fans around the globe were faced with the reality that Scoot Henderson is a prospect worthy of going No. 1 overall in the 2023 NBA Draft. That’s not taken lightly as Wembanyama showed plenty of potential himself, and despite the spotlight shining on these two players, there are several more high-impact prospects in the class. Yet through it all, what separates Henderson from the pack is the chip on his shoulder.

It doesn’t matter that he’s only 6-foot-2 and the equivalent of a high school senior. Scoot Henderson loves challenges, and if this game is any indicator, he’s going to rise to the occasion whenever it presents itself. That’s the kind of player that teams want to build around, which is going to cause some serious headaches between now and mid-June of 2023.

It wasn’t all perfect either. Henderson is prone to getting tunnel vision, dribbling the air out of the ball to create a shot for himself instead of passing. That was more the case in the first half as he used the third and fourth quarters to showcase sneaky playmaking talent. He’s going to get beat on defense sometimes, though not for a lack of effort. And despite any concerns, he’s one of the most alluring young players to enter the NBA Draft in some time.

Scoot Henderson earns an A for his 1st outing vs. Victor Wembanyama.

Henderson has a generational first-step, killer mentality, elite work ethic, will to compete on defense and springs in his shoes. This is, without a doubt, one of the best guard prospects of the 21st century.