How does LeBron James at 18 years of age compare to Scoot Henderson? Exploring truth behind viral picture exhibiting physical differences between them
As Scoot Henderson gears up for the NBA draft, fans and analysts have been comparing his physique to that of LeBron James at 18. Henderson, who currently plays in the NBA G League Ignite ahead of the upcoming NBA draft, stands at 6'4 and 196lbs according to Basketball-Reference.
His build, although not the same in terms of height and weight, looks similar to LeBron James' muscular frame at six-foot-nine. Throughout the course of the past year as he continues to find himself in the spotlight, photos of Henderson have sparked discussion.
Recent photos compare Henderson to LeBron James at 18. As it turns out, however, James isn't 18 in the photos, he's 15.
LeBron weighs in on a photo of himself at 18 vs. Scoot Henderson at 18: "That me at 15 by the way! Lol" https://t.co/ortYPGZVBU
LeBron James’ draft profile and physicals at 18
When looking at LeBron James’ draft profile from his 2003 scouting report, The Draft Review shows his listed height and weight as 6’8 and 240 lbs. At the time, the scouting report on James pointed out that he doesn’t exploit his body size enough in regards to his post-game.
Much like a young LeBron James, Scoot Henderson is a player who will likely have the physicals to out-match most guards in the post. As a result, a back-to-the-basket game to go along with his aggressive finishing would make him borderline unstoppable.
When it came to James, it was no secret that he had a unique combination of size, strength, and agility unlike anything we had seen at the time. Can Henderson and his unique combination of strength and athleticism as a point guard showcase something similar once he gets into the league?
With all of the focus on Victor Wembanyama in the upcoming draft, Henderson, although highly touted, has taken a backseat in regards to coverage. While the Rising Stars tournament at NBA All-Star weekend could have been a major coming out party for Henderson and many NBA fans, his play was underwhelming.
When he gets to the league, it will be interesting to see if his unique combination of strength and athleticism for his size sees him dominate the league. Despite that, he has continued to show out this season, averaging 21.2 points per game over 28.5 minutes averaged. In addition, he’s proven himself as a facilitator, with 6.0 assists per game. On the defensive end of the floor, Henderson has shown that he’s more than capable, as he’s now averaging over 1.5 steals per game in back-to-back years with 1.7.
Below you can see highlights from his season so far on the NBA G League Ignite