Kevin Porter Jr. confirms he’s the starting point guard for the Rockets

After a brief but stellar showing last season in Houston, Kevin Porter Jr. confirmed that he’ll be starting at point guard for the Rockets this year.

When news of Kevin Porter Jr.’s meltdown in Cleveland came out, many questioned if he could ever find his footing in the league. He was traded to the Houston Rockets on Jan. 21, 2021, and from then, the message became clear: Porter Jr. belongs in the NBA.

And this season, not only will he be given the keys to continue to prove that, but according to him, he’ll also have the keys to the Rocket’s offense. In a sit-down interview with AT&T SportsNet SW’s Cayleigh Griffin, Porter Jr. declared that he would be starting at point guard for Houston.

What is Kevin Porter Jr.’s potential?

After the Cleveland-Houston trade, former teammate Kevin Love called the young guard the most talented player on their roster and said he has the talent to become a star in the league. As soon as he got to suit up for Houston, he was able to demonstrate that potential.

In his first game with the Rockets, he notched his first career double-double, then followed that up with a 27 point outing. He dropped a 50-point and 11-assists combo on the Bucks in April and had the league on notice. In the 26 games he played last season, the 21-year-old averaged 16.6 points, 6.3 assists and just under four rebounds a game.

Having agreed to find a trade partner for the veteran John Wall, who started at point guard last year, Houston seems fully committed to this youth bloom.

With Porter Jr. running point, he’ll be paired with the 2021 second-overall pick Jalen Green in the backcourt. The two have similar playstyles with their nimble finishing, crafty playmaking and fierce competitiveness, and will likely alternate offensive and defensive responsibilities during games.

If he’s able to play to his potential and stay out of trouble, Porter Jr. might be in contention for the Most Improved Player award. According to WynnBet, he has +900 odds to win the award, which is second behind Michael Porter Jr. and over Zion Williamson and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.