“Leave…in Handcuffs”: Rockets’ Rookie Cam Whitmore’s Brutal Take Down Has 2x NBA Champion Rendering a Stern Warning

The Houston Rockets have sent a message. Steer clear of their monster rookie. A singular moment from a recent game has imprinted on everyone’s mind and rightfully justified Cam Whitmore as the steal of the draft. It’s also reminded NBA fans of another Rockets legend. That very titan has taken notice of the new upstart on the team he won his championships with. And he may be seeing a potential championship run for the Rockets thanks to this rookie.

The Rockets’ newest forward swept away Gregg Popovich’s San Antonio Spurs. Mad Max has history with both teams but he’s clearly picking a side.

Vernon Maxwell stunned by new Rockets recruit

When the Rockets selected Cam Whitmore in the 2023 NBA draft, expectations were high. During the preseason game against the Spurs, he charged right into his opponents. Toppling Spurs’ Doug McDermott without remorse, Whitmore did the most offensive dunk on the other team.

It’s become clear that Whitmore was the player the team needed. Someone who acknowledged his title-winning potential is Vernon Maxwell. He summed up the ruthless drive to win he sees in this player in a single sentence. “Cam Whitmore might leave San Antonio in handcuffs after this.”

Dubbed Mad Max, he won two championship titles alongside Hakeem Olajuwon. He was known to be pretty fiery himself. He has a history of both cinematic and jaw-dropping shots as well as some debatable off-the-court moments. So he can recognize a potential star such as himself in Whitmore.

Maxwell was not feeling very empathetic to the Spurs too. When he was drafted by the Spurs in 1988, Gregg Popovich was in his first stint with the team as an assistant coach. Unlike Whitmore, he was having a hard time making a mark in his rookie season. He also had a few off-the-court incidents. At that time, Popovich had let him know that the team was looking to trade him to another team.

WATCH THIS STORY | Shaquille O’Neal Proposes a Vital Presidential Policy to Protect His Life-Saving Profession as Protests Vouch for a Ban

They traded Maxwell to the Rockets in a meager deal. He has no hard feelings because he was in his prime in Houston. He credits this franchise for transforming his life. Meanwhile, he’s still making jokes about San Antonio on X years later.

Vernon Maxwell’s dramatic career

Mad Max was known for his own brand of aggressive play that could rival Cam Whitmore’s driving game. He earned his nickname in the 1994 NBA Finals for his clutch three-point shooting. That kind of steely nature made him perfect to take on the most formidable player in the league at that time.

Every time the Rockets played against the Chicago Bulls, he was the one guarding Michael Jordan. He was just as fiery with MJ as he was with any player he had to guard. 

READ MORE: Joel Embiid, Vernon Maxwell & Other NBA Players That Got Into Brawls With Fans

Since The Last Dance premiered, Maxwell and Jordan’s on and off-court relationship was a hot topic. They had their clashes but there was a time he was left offended by Jordan pulling a dunk on him.

Now Maxwell is watching the Houston Rockets keenly because of Cam Whitmore. This rookie has a franchise legend’s expectations to live up to now.