“Don’t Matter”: Cam Whitmore Disregards Match-up with Childhood Hero LeBron James after Leading Rockets Past Lakers

The Houston Rockets carried out a clinical attack on the Los Angeles Lakers for a blow-out win. The home side produced a collective effort where five players scored in double digits. Especially, 19-year-old Cam Whitmore came off the bench and dropped 20 points, which definitely made the difference. Above all, Whitmore’s statement on LeBron James after the game showed a glimpse of the youngster’s competitive spirit.

During the post-game interview, he was asked to respond to playing against King James. He said, “Great experience but don’t matter. I am a fan before the game, but on the floor, this guy is a competitor. So I mean, just go at him. Go at the whole team and that’s what we did.”

Whitmore had an amazing outing, coming off the bench. He dropped 20 points with 6 rebounds, helping his team take home a 16-point win. And that too, against LeBron James, would surely be cherished by the youngster.

King James has been in the league for more than 20 years, and there is a possibility that he might have influenced an entire generation of ballers that have recently stepped into the league. 18-year-old Cam Whitmore is one of them. The Rockets picked the rookie as the 20th overall pick in the 2023 draft.

Importantly, speaking about James before the start of the season, Whitmore said, “Biggest inspiration is probably, I’ll say, LeBron. Just how he’s just being himself on and off the court, I mean from the beginning… Still running up with the young guys, so it’s just surreal to see, somebody that you just have to notice and look up to.” 

Read More – “How Are They Gonna Guard Me?”: First Time All Star Alperen Sengun on Playing Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic

Despite having idolized the superstar, he expressed his competitive spirit with his brief statement after the game.

Cam Whitmore’s grit on point

He not only displayed his grit with his statement about competing against LeBron James, but also with his decision. Keeping his age aside, the Rockets rookie has already impressed the NBA world with his athletic and dunking ability. In response to that, the league has approached the star for the dunk contest during the All-Star, but the star has rejected the invitation.

Moreover, he has his own reasons for declining the offer. He said, “I don’t, I really don’t, nothing that takes technique and plus, with the flashiness added into that… I got asked twice for the dunk contest and I said ‘no.’ I’m waiting until the time comes,” reported the Houston Chronicles. 

Watch This Story – Alperen Sengun Muffling Nikola Jokic and Co at Home Takes NBA World by Surprise

What do you make of Cam Whitmore’s statement about James after the game? Let us know in the comments below.