Denver Nuggets: Evaluating Michael Porter Jr.’s dynamic January

This was an up-and-down season for Denver Nuggets rookie Michael Porter Jr., primarily due to lack of opportunity. But what can we make of his January play?

Whether he becomes an NBA superstar or fizzles out in two years, it’s hard to imagine Denver Nuggets rookie Michael Porter Jr. will reflect fondly on this season.

Porter’s tantalizing shooting touch was overshadowed by quick benchings from head coach Mike Malone, and his strong performances were drowned out by the loud decision to sit Porter in favor of Torrey Craig.

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And the clamoring from fans and media only seemed to motivate Malone to double-down on his stubborn approach. Rookies must earn it.

But when did the lackluster second unit – who often couldn’t hold onto double-figure leads nor shoot the ball into an ocean – ever “earn it”?

Malone’s been a good coach who happened to make some poor decisions surrounding Porter. There’s hope yet, however, for the Porter-Malone tandem to taste success.

The best evidence of this came in January, when damn it all, Porter finally averaged 21.4 minutes per game and looked the part of a polished NBA scorer.

He averaged 12.3 points per game on a ridiculous 52.2 percent shooting, while also knocking down 48.0 percent of his 3-point tries. He scored 15 points or better seven times in the month, proving himself a lethal combination of volume scoring and efficiency.

Porter also snagged 6.9 rebounds per game throughout the month, showing a great knack around the boards. He’ll be a great guy to cover for Jerami Grant, who averaged just 3.5 rebounds per contest at the 4-spot.

Entering the 2019-20 season, many wondered if Porter had the tools to be the league’s next great superstar.

The simple answer: Yes, he does. This was thoroughly demonstrated by his play throughout January.

So now what? How does Denver make Porter their superstar, instead of serving as a farm system to develop another team’s superstar?

The best practice is to start Porter next season, rolling with any mistakes and familiarizing him with Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.

If this happens, Porter must continue to be a strong floor spacer. This will immediately give Jokic and Murray extra room to work, as well as a shooter to punish opposing double-teams, benefiting Denver’s offense by forcing defenses to pick their poison. This element alone should cause a significant jump in the Nuggets’ offensive rating.

Additionally, Porter has shown the ability to move without the ball, and Jokic is one of the NBA’s best at rewarding cutters. The two just need more time together. Figuring out the cutting game alongside Jokic will help Porter’s scoring immensely, as he’ll get easy baskets mixed in among the tougher jumpers.

Finally, Porter must develop a defensive identity. If Grant plays the other forward slot, he will take tougher on-ball assignments, while Porter will be expected to play the helpside defense. Perhaps his size will be beneficial here.

Either way, he must contribute something on the stopping end, especially when playing for such a defensive-minded coach.

Porter’s future is exciting, as he has legitimate superstar scoring potential. Next year should be an exciting season for Denver Nuggets fans, and hopefully Porter receives his due playing time. If he rides the pine again, honestly, the squad may as well trade him to the highest bidder while his value is still high.