Pistons draft: Scoot Henderson shutting down early shows G-League flaw

With just 12 games left in a disappointing season, the Detroit Pistons’ front office will turn their attention to the upcoming 2023 NBA Draft.

March Madness has kicked off and some of the top prospects are hoping to make deep runs in the tournament that will raise their draft status.

That includes Brandon Miller of Alabama, who has a chance to put himself in the conversation for the 2nd overall pick with a strong tournament run if he hasn’t done so already.

He case was helped yesterday, when the G-League announced that projected #2 pick Scoot Henderson was done for the season:

After missing the Ignite’s last game, Henderson will miss six games overall to end his season, a bit of a fizzle for a guy many think could be the NBA’s next great point guard. The question is whether this will affect his status in the 2023 NBA Draft.

Detroit Pistons Draft: Scoot Henderson and the G-League

One problem with the G-League as it pertains to NBA prospects, is that we don’t get to see much of them. Unlike high-profile NCAA games, G-League games are rarely televised, which is a shame, as some of the top prospects are now choosing that route instead of college.

The other problem is that G-League players are not playing in games that really matter. Defense is an afterthought and wins and losses do not really affect how a guy is viewed by NBA scouts. It’s all about the individual, which doesn’t seem to be the best way to develop players.

Henderson will undoubtedly still go in the top-5 no matter what, but scouts are now going to get a look at some of the other prospects in competitive games with something at stake to get an idea of how they respond under pressure on the big stage.

Players like Miller will be showcased for everyone to see while Scoot Henderson watches from home like the rest of us. I am a huge fan of the G-League overall and think it can eventually be a legit minor league system for the NBA, but right now, there are some flaws in terms of exposure and team basketball.

The biggest argument in favor of G-League prospects is that they are playing against “adults,” which is true, but they are also playing non-competitive games in front of tiny crowds and mostly just trying to rack up individual stats.

We’ll see if missing a good sized chunk of the G-League season will have any negative effect on prospect Scoot Henderson.