Michael Porter Jr. playing like All-Star but Nets know its on them to give him chance

Could Michael Porter Jr.go from salary dump to All-Star?To a man, the Nets insist he’s deserving of his first All-Star Game berth.

And they admit their record makes him unlikely.But with voting for the rosters having opened Thursday — and Brooklyn just 7-18 as they host the Heat on Thursday — Porter is in the midst of a career year so impressive he’s forcing himself into the conversation.“For sure he can be an All-Star,” Day’Ron Sharpe said.“We’ve just got to win more for them to give him the vote.“I don’t want him to be one of those guys like Bradley Beal was averaging 30 a year but Washington was the worst team in the league.

So just try to be around the Play-In and hopefully — not hopefully, he’ll get an All-Star for sure if we’re in the Play-In conversation.”The comparison was humorous and apt, considering the Nets’ situation.Porter arrived as a salary dump but has emerged as the featured scorer, excelling off cuts, pin-downs and dribble handoffs to 25.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.6 made 3-pointers on 49.7/39.9/81.3 shooting splits, the only others matching his production is a cavalcade of stars.He joins Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Lauri Markkanen and Deni Avdija as the only players averaging 25 points and seven boards.Doncic is the only other one besides Porter mustering three 3s.Possibly more important, Brooklyn’s offense has cratered without Porter this season.

Their scoring differential without him is in the 96th percentile in the entire league per Cleaning The Glass.Despite the Nets’ losing record, few players have been more impactful.“Just look at what we look like when he’s on the court vs.

when he’s not on the court,” Nic Claxton said.“He does so much: He creates so many opportunities for himself, for other teammates.

His averages are off the charts.So he definitely should be an All-Star.

We just need to win some more games.But he definitely should be an All-Star.”Claxton may have benefited as much as...