Trail Blazers' Biggest Surprise Of The 2026 Season Has Not Been Positive

The Portland Trail Blazers have experienced plenty of unexpected developments during the 2026 season, but perhaps none have been more surprising than Scoot Henderson's struggles. The young guard entered the year with considerable expectations after some impressive performances in the postseason to end last year, but he has been unable to carry that momentum into the regular season.

In fact, Henderson's disappointing start has become one of the biggest talking points surrounding the organization. The Athletic's Jason Quick recently identified his struggles as the most surprising part of Portland's season, particularly considering what the Blazers expected from him heading into the year, "Many inside the Blazers thought Henderson was primed for a breakout season after being arguably one of the Blazers’ best players in the preseason, but he has been stunningly subpar, so much so that he lost his starting role filling in for the injured Ja Morant after five games."

That is a pretty significant development for a player who was expected to take another step forward. Henderson had an opportunity to establish himself as a reliable presence in Portland's backcourt, especially with Morant unavailable, but things have gone about as poorly as they could have.

His production has been particularly concerning. Henderson has recorded 26 turnovers compared to just 17 assists while shooting 31.5 percent from the field. From beyond the arc, he has connected on only 10 of his 44 attempts, a dismal 22.7 percent.

Quick also highlighted the unfortunate timing of Henderson's struggles, writing, "The worst part: The Blazers need him more than ever with Morant sidelined."

That is ultimately what makes this situation so frustrating for Portland. The Blazers have an important opportunity to evaluate their young talent while navigating Morant's absence, and Henderson was supposed to be one of the players who could make the most of it. Instead, his inability to consistently produce has forced the coaching staff to look elsewhere for answers.

There is still plenty of time for Henderson to get things back on track. His preseason performance showed why the organization remains invested in his development, and a difficult stretch early in the season doesn't necessarily define his future. However, the Blazers need him to start showing signs of progress.

Portland cannot afford to have one of its most important young guards playing this poorly, particularly when the team needs additional production in the backcourt. Henderson has an opportunity to change the narrative, but his struggles have quickly become an unexpected concern for the Blazers.