{"id":151571,"date":"2025-07-22T12:08:13","date_gmt":"2025-07-22T16:08:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=151571"},"modified":"2025-07-22T12:08:13","modified_gmt":"2025-07-22T16:08:13","slug":"nets-expect-michael-porter-jr-compete-scoring-title","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/07\/22\/nets-expect-michael-porter-jr-compete-scoring-title\/","title":{"rendered":"Nets Expect Newcomer To Be In Scoring Title Conversation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Being traded by a championship-contender doesn\u2019t always look like it\u2019ll benefit the player that was moved. However, in the case of Brooklyn Nets newcomer Michael Porter Jr.<\/a>, that\u2019s precisely what happened. At 27 years old and now in the prime of his career, he now has a tremendous opportunity in front of him.<\/p>\n

Nets Expect Michael Porter Jr. To Be In Scoring Title Conversation<\/h2>\n

The Nets are still in rebuild mode and are unlikely to be vying for an NBA title in the immediate future. So, unlike the Nuggets, they\u2019re in a better position to tinker with their shot distribution. Where Denver was heavily reliant on the 1-2 punch of Nikola Jokic<\/a> and Jamal Murray<\/a>, Brooklyn doesn\u2019t actually have any volume scorers under contract, yet.<\/p>\n

This leaves a void, if not a need, that the Nets have to address. That being said, their solution appears to be directly tied<\/a> to their acquisition of Porter.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re transitioning our roster, of course,\u201d a Nets front office executive tells Spotrac\u2019s Keith Smith. \u201cWe\u2019re going to play a lot of young players. But we need some vets to balance that. And, of course, we need to score some points. Porter will help us a ton there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not saying he\u2019ll win the scoring title, but I think it could be close.\u201d<\/p>\n

Klay Thompson Comparison<\/h3>\n

While he undoubtedly has his limitations, Porter is universally regarded as one of the league\u2019s premier shooters. Since being drafted 14th overall in 2018, the 6-foot-10 forward has made 843 three-pointers with a 40.6 percent conversion rate. In fact, he ranks second all-time in Nuggets franchise history in made 3s and fifth in three-point percentage.<\/p>\n

\"\"
May 9, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) shoots the ball in the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder during game three of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Even if it was the only tool that he had, Porter strengths compare favorably to a player like Dallas Mavericks wing Klay Thompson<\/a>, a career 41.1 percent 3-point shooter. With that in mind, Thompson\u2019s career-high is 22.3 points per game. Over a seven-season stretch, he averaged 21.5 points per game. Should Porter be playing alongside<\/a> Nets restricted free agent Cam Thomas<\/a>, those are the numbers he could be looking at.<\/p>\n

Kevin Durant Comparison<\/h3>\n

There\u2019s also the possibility that Brooklyn sees him as more of a Kevin Durant<\/a> than Thompson.<\/p>\n

Both Durant (who now plays for<\/a> the Houston Rockets) and Porter are lankier forwards with a soft touch. Durant is more comfortable than either Porter or Thompson with regards to scoring off-the-dribble. However, Porter\u2019s complaints about how he was utilized in Denver suggests that he wouldn\u2019t mind altering his shot diet. Indeed, he showed an increased determination to score on drives over the past two seasons; for the first time in his career, he recorded more than 200 drives in a single season.<\/p>\n

With that being said, Durant recorded 649 drives in 2024-25, a far higher number than Porter. However, it\u2019s worth noting that many of Durant\u2019s drive attempts see him taking three dribbles and getting to a spot on the floor he\u2019s comfortable shooting. Due to his length and precision, he\u2019s often able to shoot over the top of defenders.<\/p>\n

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\u201824-25 KD 1v1 three dribble max pic.twitter.com\/4vCjet5dgP<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Brett Usher (@UsherNBA) March 23, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n