Nets Michael Porter Jr. set to learn All-Star Game fate: Would be a dream come true
Michael Porter Jr.’s red-hot season comes to a head on Sunday.The Nets star will find out if he will earn his first All-Star nomination and his childhood dream will come down to the NBA coaches’ 14 selections that include seven reserves from each conference.On paper, the veteran forward has a lot going for him.He is the top scorer among the young team by nine points, and he is the only player in the East — and one of just two in the league — averaging 25 points and seven boards per game.In three of his last four games, he pulled off 30-plus point nights which included two season-highs in points and his best game of the season against Denver when he recorded a double-double of 38 points and 10 rebounds along with three assists.The game also saw him score 13 points in his first 10 minutes on the court.Defensively, he is among the Nets’ top two lineups used across at least 10 games this season in defensive rating.
He, among Terance Mann, Noah Clowney, Nic Claxton, and Egor Dëmin hold a 114.3 across 18 games and 306 minutes.The Nets were also winless without Porter on the court.They went 0-8 until Friday night when Dëmin powered the team to a 109-99 win over the Jazz.
They’re 12-26 with him active.“It definitely would be a dream come true.It was in my mind as a kid to make the NBA, but not only be in the NBA but be one of the best players in the NBA.
And an All-Star selection shows that progress,” Porter said in December.“But it’s definitely not what I’m thinking of.
I’ve always tried to be more process-oriented and do the right things day to day, game to game, and let the results take care of itself.”Those inside Barclays Center will be rooting for Porter as he went from a title-winning Nuggets team to leading a rebuilding Nets squad.A reserve spot could be reachable.However, for that same reason, it could be a no for Porter.The cast of characters who could be East reserves is stacked.Jalen Duren and Brandon Ingram seem to be locks.
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