Cam Whitmore's start to the season has been just about has inconsistent as the start to his NBA career has been.
The former first-round pick has shown flashes of his potential, but he's also shown the exact reason why he's struggles to carve out a significant role on either of his first two stops.
Between his failed stint with the Houston Rockets and lackluster beginning to his tenure with his hometown team, the Maryland native has struggled to prove he can be a player a franchise can build around.
Obviously, his struggles aren't tied to a lack of talent, especially considering the fact he's shown on numerous occasions his ability to score at will.
Instead, his struggles have been related to his inability to get out of his own way.
Cam Whitmore’s failure to meet standards may be exposed
Head coach Brian Keefe made it clear following Whitmore's recent benching that it came after the forward failed to live up to the team's standards.
"We have certain standards that we have for our team," Keefe said. "He [Whitmore[ has to live up to those on the better. And he'll have a chance here, but that's gonna be up to him when that time comes."
Keefe wouldn't clarify exactly what those standards were that Whitmore failed to meet, but he did share some insight into what the team took notice to:
"That's the stuff we talk about internally, so it's more stuff we saw in the game, but I don't have anything more to comment on that."
Nonetheless, NBA insider Grant Afseth for RG.org may have shed light on part of the standards that Whitmore has failed to meet.
In a recent article in regards to Whitmore's benching and Keefe's remarks, the reporter did some digging to find out what may have led to the forward's benching.
That digging led him to this reponse fron a source:
“If you’re trying to establish yourself in the NBA, you need to show up to practice,” a source told RG's Grant Afseth.
If Whitmore truly is giving underwhelming efforts off the court, it doesn't come as a shock to see Washington's coaching staff see those same issues showing up on game day.
Whitmore's struggles to start the year have been disappointing, especially considering that this change of scenery was hoped to be the fresh start that could change the trajectory of his career.
However, at this point of his career, with reports suggesting that his body language and poor attitude resulted in the end of his run in Houston, it feels fair to wonder if his disappointing approach to the game has carried over to the DMV.
Regardless of what the cause is for his recent benching, it's clear that until he's able to overcome the self-inflicted issues, his development will continue to be hindered.