It’s understandable if you decided to drop Kevin Porter Jr. from your card investment plans at some point this season. Who wouldn’t after he was arrested during the offseason because of a gun charge or his locker room outburst that had him traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers? As a result, a lot of fans soured on the 30th pick of last year's draft and dropped his cards faster than a hot potato.

After acting out over his preferred spot in the locker room, the Cavs traded Porter to the Houston Rockets for a protected second-round pick. The Rockets then sent the second-year guard to their G League team, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, at the start of the season.

While that was happening, the Rockets were having the worst few months in recent memory. First, James Harden forced his way out of Houston in a trade that netted Victor Oladipo. Christian Wood has been out since February and DeMarcus Cousins was bought out, leaving H-Town without a capable big man to fill the center position. Moreover, John Wall has been inconsistent on the court all season long.

These factors have led the Rockets to exploring a fire sale ahead of the March 25 trade deadline. It also resulted in Porter being called up from the G League to join the roster after the All-Star break. We examine how this second-year player performed before that happened and how his debut has reignited the interest of people back in his cards.

Kevin Porter Jr. and his G League stint

In the 15 games Porter started for the Vipers, the 6-foot-4 guard averaged 24.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 7.3 assists, and 1.6 steals per contest. While his 32% 3-point rating is considered below standard, Porter managed to shoot 54% from the field and 78% from the free-throw line.

Apart from the bucket-getting, what stands out from these numbers is the assist rate. This means Porter is evolving into a credible player who can create plays for himself and for his teammates.

Porter’s performance as a Rocket

Porter made his debut last week when Houston faced the Sacramento Kings. In 29 minutes, he notched 13 points, five rebounds, three steals, and 10 assists. As mentioned earlier, his playmaking skill is very evident, a quality that should make fans look forward more to his games.

The following night, Porter started against the top team in the NBA, the Utah Jazz. In that game, he tallied a season-high 27 points and eight assists. Although Porter would cool down two nights later in a game against the Boston Celtics, he would still go on to record 11 points and seven assists.

Three games into the season and Porter is already making waves. He is currently averaging 17.0 points, 8.3 assists, 3.0 rebounds, and a steal per contest. That number can go either way, depending on how Wall or Wood will perform or if Oladipo is traded before the deadline. 

What’s clear here is that Houston has a very intriguing talent in Porter. If he comes into his own and manages to reach even half of his upside, the Rockets will have a good piece to build upon. This is a promising development, especially in a season many fans have deemed lost for Houston. 

The Kevin Porter Jr. rookie card market

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At the end of January, Porter’s PSA 10 Prizm rookie card was sold at an average of $50. As a result of his antics in Cleveland, his value tumbled down to that level.

After an impressive three-game stretch for Houston, that number shot up this past week. The most recent sale of a PSA 10 Porter Prizm rookie card amounted to $200. As you can see, this represents a huge jump from where his stock was two months ago.

The verdict on Porter’s stock

Playing for a losing team certainly has its benefits for a promising player like Kevin Porter Jr. With rumors surrounding Oladipo’s fate in H-Town, there’s a strong chance Porter is going to get even more minutes after the trade deadline. If that happens, Porter will get to increase his contributions, especially on the offensive end of the court.

Rockets, Kevin Porter Jr., John Wall, Victor Oladipo, Stephen Silas

This is a very good opportunity for those who want to invest in him. Although his stock has recently jumped, there’s still a lot of room for Porter’s prices to go up. He’s the perfect buy right now due to his affordable value and incredible upside in Houston. If you do see a great deal on Kevin Porter Jr. rookie cards, you better grab it right away because he is a very promising player to invest in.