Playing buy or sell with 2019-20 NBA preseason trends
Michael Porter Jr. is ready to be a legitimate X-factor
The anticipation for Michael Porter Jr.’s debut has been steadily building since the Denver Nuggets took him 14th overall in the 2018 NBA Draft. Once considered a top-three prospect, injuries tanked his draft stock and kept him sidelined for the entire 2018-19 campaign.
Now, in his first shot at NBA action, he’s showing glimpses of the silky smooth game that could lift Denver’s already high ceiling even higher.
https://twitter.com/nuggets/status/1181791040828653568?s=20
MPJ’s ability to create separation off the dribble for his own shot is apparent already, and he’s only 21 years old. He doesn’t move like a normal rookie on either end of the floor, which is doubly impressive for a youngster with zero NBA experience coming off two back surgeries.
In four preseason games, Porter averaged 9.3 points and 4.0 rebounds in just 16.3 minutes per game, but the snapshots of individual brilliance were abundant. He only made one of his seven 3-pointers, but still shot an impressive 16-for-29 from the field overall (55.2 percent).
However, as much as the rook as been billed as a potential X-factor for Denver, it’s unlikely we’ll see that come to fruition in year one. He’s going to be good, and the individual offense he can provide will be useful (even as a rookie), but if the Nuggets’ season is Avengers: Endgame, his rookie year is going to be one of the supporting characters that will carry the franchise down the road, but has to take a backseat to the main stars for the time being.