Michael Porter Jr., Brooklyn Nets
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Michael Porter Jr. scored a season-high 36 points in the Nets loss against the Suns.
The Brooklyn Nets have one of the most sought after players ahead of the trade deadline. Michael Porter Jr. had his best game of the season on Tuesday as the Nets suffered a close loss to the Phoenix Suns.
Porter Jr. finished with a season-high 36 points along with five rebounds and three assists. He knocked down six three-pointers as well.
ESPN Insights
MPJ HAS BEEN COOKIN’ WITH THE NETS 🔥
This is his 12th game with 30+ PTS this season, twice as many as any other season. Tonight, Porter Jr. scored 36 PTS, his most since joining the Nets 👏
This high-level shooting forward is having an impressive season in his first year with the Nets. Through 37 games, he is averaging 25.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game. He is top 20 in the league in points per game. Porter Jr. continues to increase his trade value this season and he is making a strong case to have a team make a move for him before the deadline.
Michael Porter Jr.’s Breakout Season With Brooklyn
Porter Jr. spent his entire career with the Denver Nuggets before joining the Nets. He became a key player in Denver and played a significant role in the team’s NBA title in 2023. In his second game with Brooklyn, he scored 31 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Throughout the season he has shown that he can score at will and wants to have the ball in his hands in clutch moments. In December, he went on a scoring spree as he scored 30 plus points in four consecutive games.
Porter Jr. battled with injuries during his time in Denver and now that he’s healthy, he’s been on a tear this season. He talked about the success he’s having this year and he’s also not surprised either.
“My expectation was to be the best player in the NBA,” he said. “Injuries had their way with me, but I think determination and resilience have allowed me to carve out a pretty valuable space in the NBA… What I’m doing now is not a shock to me. Doing it post-injury is what I’m proud of.”
The confidence Porter Jr. has is through the roof and he is having an All-Star caliber season so far. He is making a strong case to be selected for his first All-Star game.
Michael Porter Jr.’s Trade Value
Numerous teams across the league have inquired about Porter Jr. and doing a possible trade. While nothing has been confirmed, there are teams out there keeping a close eye on Porter Jr., especially with the trade deadline approaching. He will add a lot of value to a playoff contending team and he adds length to the lineup as well.
The question is what will teams be willing to give up for him? If Porter Jr. can continue to remain healthy, the sky is the limit for him and what he can accomplish. For now, he will continue to be the go to man for Brooklyn and keep taking his game to another level. While Brooklyn may not be a team that’s competing for a playoff spot, the team has one of the top players in the league right now. It’s going to be exciting to see how Porter Jr. continues to play throughout the season.