Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson is signaling a fresh start after an injury-disrupted season, and one of his newest teammates took notice.
Henderson posted a collection of workout photos, fit checks and other offseason moments to Instagram on August 23, captioning the post with a brief declaration: “I’m rejuvenated.”
New Blazers guard Ja Morant was among those who responded, dropping battery and spider emojis in Henderson’s comments.
The interaction was brief, but Henderson’s message carries some weight entering the 2026-27 season. The former No. 3 overall pick is coming off a year in which a torn left hamstring kept him out for more than half the season, and Portland has since added Morant to a backcourt that already presents plenty of competition for touches and minutes.
Scoot Henderson Looking for Fresh Start After Injury-Hit Season
Henderson never had a normal runway into his third NBA season.
The 22-year-old suffered a torn left hamstring during an offseason workout in September 2025. Although his initial timetable was four to six weeks, his recovery stretched deep into the regular season.
Henderson did not make his season debut until February 6, missing Portland’s first 51 games. He returned with 11 points and nine assists in 21 minutes during a 135-115 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
He eventually appeared in 30 games, starting 10, and averaged 14.2 points, 3.7 assists and 2.7 rebounds in 24.9 minutes per game. Henderson shot 41.8% from the field and 35.2% from 3-point range.
The outside shooting number was an encouraging development. Henderson entered the league with questions about whether opponents would consistently respect his jumper, but he converted 35.2% of his 162 3-point attempts last season after shooting 32.5% as a rookie and 35.4% in his second season.
His latest post suggests he is attacking this offseason from a much different place physically than he did a year ago.
That could be important, because his path to a major role has not gotten any simpler.
Ja Morant Trade Changes Blazers’ Backcourt Equation
Portland acquired Morant from the Memphis Grizzlies on June 29 in exchange for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray, giving the Trail Blazers another accomplished ball-handler.
Morant averaged 19.5 points and 8.1 assists in 20 games for Memphis last season. The two-time All-Star now joins a Portland guard group that also includes Henderson, Jrue Holiday and Damian Lillard.
That creates one of the more unusual backcourt situations in the NBA.
Morant has been at his best with the ball in his hands. Henderson, whose development remains important after Portland used the No. 3 pick on him in 2023, also needs on-ball opportunities. Holiday can operate on or off the ball, while Lillard is working toward his return after missing the 2025-26 season.
There are therefore legitimate questions about exactly where Henderson fits when Portland is healthy.
Those questions make the timing of his “rejuvenated” declaration notable, even though Henderson did not explicitly connect his post to Morant, his role or the Blazers’ offseason moves.
Portland spent much of Henderson’s first three seasons waiting to see what its young point guard could become. Year 4 could require him to earn opportunities inside a considerably deeper and more accomplished group.
Morant’s reaction was hardly a detailed statement about that competition. But seeing Portland’s newest high-profile guard show support for Henderson is still a noteworthy early interaction between two players whose roles will be among the Blazers’ most interesting questions when training camp arrives.
Blazers Guard Scoot Henderson Gets Ja Morant’s Attention With Offseason Message