“I’m not saying he’ll win the scoring title, but I think it could be close” – Nets believe Michael Porter Jr. ‘could be close’ to contending for scoring title originally appeared on Basketball Network.
When he was still in high school, Michael Porter Jr. was considered one of the top 3 players in the country, alongside Deandre Ayton and Mo Bamba. Many believed the league was getting the next Kevin Durant, as Porter’s playing style frighteningly resembled KD’s.
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However, just before the 2018 Draft, Porter underwent serious back surgery, dropping all the way to the 14th pick, despite once being viewed as a No. 1 prospect. The Denver Nuggets decided to take a gamble, but Porter ended up needing two more back surgeries. In the meantime, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray blossomed into stars no one saw coming.
Porter Jr.’s name constantly came up in trade rumors
After those surgeries, it was difficult for Porter to return as the team’s top option, especially since he had glaring weaknesses in playmaking and ball-handling. Thanks to his elite efficiency, he soon settled into an ideal catch-and-shoot role.
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Still, Porter Jr. played a role in helping the Nuggets win their first-ever NBA title, although he often saw his production dip in the playoffs, occasionally becoming the team’s fourth option due to Aaron Gordon’s strong performances. Following the title run, the Nuggets regressed, and Porter’s name constantly came up in trade rumors. This summer, he was finally dealt to the Brooklyn Nets in a deal involving Cameron Johnson.
“We’re transitioning our roster, of course. We’re going to play a lot of young players. But we need some vets to balance that. And, of course, we need to score some points,” the anonymous executive said regarding the additions of Porter and Terance Mann.
“Porter will help us a ton there. I’m not saying he’ll win the scoring title, but I think it could be close. And Terance will help with everything. He’s such a good connector. He’s going to help our young ballhandlers a ton with learning the NBA.”
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A completely new environment for MPJ
The Nets are deep in rebuilding mode, which means an entirely new environment for Porter, who’s spent recent years playing for a contender. It’s hard to imagine a player like Porter, with obvious flaws, truly becoming what the Nets hope.
Porter himself has admitted he would never have reached his full potential in Denver, given the heliocentric system revolving around Jokic. He often found himself just standing in the corner during late-game situations, watching Jokic and Murray run their two-man game. He was honest about his future with the Nets and why his time in Denver had run its course.
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“So, I’m really excited about this new chapter out here in Brooklyn,” he said. “I think over there in Denver my ceiling kind of plateaued. You know, we just have a way of playing — how Joker plays, how Jamal plays, that two-man game is very potent. That’s how we play and I’m so appreciative of the way we play. We ended up winning a championship, but I do feel like my ceiling in Denver kind of plateaued a little bit and I’m excited for this next chapter in Brooklyn for sure.”
Porter is still young enough to possibly have a breakout season
The Nets currently hold one of the richest draft asset portfolios in the league — around 15 first-rounders and 16 second-rounders through 2031, plus Denver’s 2032 pick. They’re building smart, following the model of this year’s finalists: the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers. They also had five first-round picks in this year’s draft.
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That said, it’s worth considering the Nets’ broader vision — Porter is still young enough to possibly have a breakout season. If that happens, he could become a valuable trade chip, since championship-level teams always look for elite scoring forwards.
On the other hand, Jokic gave Porter the easiest looks in the league, making him one of the most efficient scorers in the NBA. Last season, he averaged 18.2 points on 50.4 percent shooting from the field and 39.2 percent from three. He shoots 50 percent overall and 40.6 percent from deep for his career.
It’ll be interesting to see him in a new role as a vocal point of the offense, and for the first time since college, expectations will be on him to dominate the way he was once projected to be the next Durant.
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This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 26, 2025, where it first appeared.