The Denver Nuggets and Michael Porter Jr. have agreed to a five-year, $207 million maximum extension. This is the fourth max rookie extension handed out in this offseason alone. MPJ joins the exclusive list which features Luka Doncic, Trae Young, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

As always, there was a divide among NBA fans. Some say it's too early to offer such a hefty contract to the 23-year-old. On the other side of the spectrum, they congratulated MPJ, noting that he fully deserves the massive extension. Ultimately, this is a matter of wait-and-see. But based on how Michael Porter Jr has performed over the last two seasons, we fully believe that he deserves the bag. Here are the three biggest reasons why.

1. Worked his way up 

When Michael Porter Jr donned the Nuggets jersey, the team was already considered a legit playoff team. They had a solid identity centered on Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. They also had a reliable set of role players and veterans. Teams with this type of composition usually just need more time on the floor to completely gel. Adding a few more key guys — preferably with experience — also won't hurt.

This is why not everyone was sold when the Nuggets picked up Porter from the draft. There were no apprehensions about his talents. Rather, there were concerns about his back injury (which caused him to miss his first season) as well as his overall fit with the team. The ultimate question was: will Mike Malone find a role for the rookie?

Props should be given to Malone and his coaching staff for actively seeking the right role for Michael Porter Jr. But ultimately, it was Porter Jr. who performed whenever his name was called. He saw limited minutes in the regular season, often playing at the beginning and towards the end of quarters. Come playoff time in the bubble, MPJ showed why the Nuggets were right in their instincts. He not only belongs in the NBA, but he can absolutely be a star. Now, you cannot just ignore Michael Porter Jr whenever you talk about the Nuggets.

2. Clutch potential

“Clutch” is a word not casually thrown around to describe players. Hitting one big shot in a single game doesn't immediately make you a clutch player. To be labeled as such, you need to achieve a certain level of consistency. And that's not necessarily an easy task. In his first two years in the league, Porter Jr. has shown signs he can be trusted in late-game situations.

Fans first saw this in the Nuggets' stellar 2020 NBA Playoffs campaign. To recall, the Nuggets were able to come back from back-to-back 3-1 deficits. Both Jokic and Murray were instrumental in this. But let's not forget how Michael Porter Jr — in his very first playoff trip — hit a clutch 3-pointer in Game 5 against the LA Clippers. To make things even sweeter, he also swatted Ivica Zubac's shot late in the game. These two plays paved the way for a Nuggets victory. Not all young players have the poise and confidence that MPJ showed.

We cannot say that MPJ is on the level of someone like Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan. But so far, we can confidently say that he's off to a good start. In the coming season, don't raise your eyebrows once Mike Malone draws up a play designed for Michael Porter Jr in a clutch situation.

3. Extra motivation without Jamal Murray

You cannot view the contract simply as a means to secure a player over the next several years. It also serves as a motivation for the player to perform according to his worth — a value he negotiated with the team. This extra motivation will be imperative this 2021-22 NBA season as the team will miss the services of Jamal Murray. There's no timetable yet. Murray went under the needle in April 2021. Players who have suffered an ACL tear usually miss one whole year. And when they do return, the team usually limits his activity and minutes.

Without Murray, the team will miss some 20 points and five assists per game as well as the plethora of intangibles that the guard brings. Nikola Jokic, who's coming off an MVP year, would have to further elevate his game if he wants the Nuggets to remain an elite team. There's no doubt Jokic will step up. But at the same time, all eyes also divert to Michael Porter Jr. This massive contract extension is a sign that he's been bestowed as the team's third star.

As such, in the coming season, we might see more players centered on MPJ. Given his decent handles and shooting, he might be involved in two-man plays with Jokic. Last season, Porter Jr. averaged 19.0 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. Expect this to go up to 25-27 points and 10.0 rebounds a night. These numbers are very feasible given Michael Porter Jr's innate abilities.