Michael Porter Jr. of the Denver Nuggets believes that his penchant for perfection has aided him in achieving relative success at a young age. However, the 21-year-old has observed that in the professional ranks, there are some things that you can't control. And to adjust to this change, Porter believes that he needs to take a small step back.
“I’m naturally a perfectionist, and I think that’s what helped me get to this level,” said Porter, a young pro trying to learn patience while itching to get off the Denver bench. “But once you get to this level, it’s a business. There’s a lot of things out of your control. So that’s a skill you’ve got to pick up.”
Porter Jr. noticed that when he's pressing himself, it doesn't translate into good things on the court. The best approach is to remain calm and loose.
“When I’m all serious, I don’t play good,” Porter said, per Mark Kiszla of The Denver Post. “When I can go out there and be free and play my game, I feel way more comfortable. That’s what I focus on.
Michael Porter Jr. has been a rising star for Nuggets head coach Mike Malone. Malone initially fielded him for a few minutes a game so he could establish a rhythm. But in the past several games, Porter's minutes have increased and so is his productivity.
For the entire 2019-20 season, he's averaging 6.3 points, 3.0 rebounds across 11.4 minutes per game. But in the month of January, he's averaging 10.0 points and 3.6 rebounds in 17 minutes. This includes a career-night where he notched 25 points on 11-of-12 from the field.
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