The Houston Rockets took a chance on Kevin Porter Jr. after he had a falling out with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Porter had an incident with the team, which led to them looking to part ways with him last NBA season.
They were going to waive him if they were unable to find a trade partner. The Rockets ended up acquiring him for a 2024 second-round pick. It was a free flier on a former first-round pick, and thus far, it is working out excellently for Houston.
Porter played well in his 26 games with the team during the 2020-21 season. He averaged 16.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 6.3 assists in 32.1 minutes per game. The former USC product looks to be a part of the Houston Rockets foundation going forward and he is ready to do whatever it takes to help the team start winning some games.
With the Rocket and John Wall agreeing that he will sit out until they find a new team for him to play for, there are minutes available at the point guard spot.
LATEST NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Can Rockets’ Kevin Porter Jr. Take Next Step?
Porter is listed as a shooting guard and small forward, but he knows what it takes to handle the point guard position.
“I feel like just being the point guard and having the ball in my hands as much as I do is just being vocal,” Porter told Kelly Iko of The Athletic. “Because the point guards are the most vocal, if not the second most behind the big man or center. But you have to be a leader out there. You got to keep your guys right, you got to keep the frequency level and energy right and the tempo runs off for you. You always got to have your mind level so you can get back and do what you got to do for yourself and your team.”
Only 21-years old and essentially learning a new position, Porter has a lot of room for growth. But, he knows what his job is when he is tasked with being the lead guard and playmaker for the team.
“When I’m the only playmaker out there, it’s my job to set everyone up,” Porter said. “I’m every possession, I gotta value possessions. So definitely that’s when I’m more so passive because I have to be. I got to get everyone in sets, and honestly, that’s probably where I learn the most.
“Being out there and having to be the only playmaker out there is probably where I learn the most. Because you know I make mistakes, but I get to learn from them and I can come down next possession and hit that right read. Definitely learn from it being the only playmaker out there sometimes.”
LATEST NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Can Rockets’ Kevin Porter Jr. Take Next Step?
Kevin Porter Jr. has a great mindset when it comes to running the point guard position. He wants to get his teammates involved and help put the team in a position to win games. His willingness to learn from his mistakes is a positive as well.
