Michael Porter Jr. and the Denver Nuggets are stuck in a hyper-interesting juxtaposition.
On one hand, the Denver Nuggets — and Porter Jr. himself — know that Porter Jr. is not just talented, but has the potential to be one of the best players in the entirety of the National Basketball Association. Additionally, he plays small forward, which is a position that the Nuggets are still searching for their long-term answer at. So it seems beyond obvious that he needs to be involved in the rotation.
On the other hand, the Nuggets have a minimum of 12 players who deserve playing time and all but two of those players helped the Nuggets win 54 games last season and advance to the Western Conference Semifinals. To make matters worse, four of those 12 players are small forwards; the same position that Porter Jr. plays. Does it really make sense to remove two of Will Barton, Torrey Craig, and Juancho Hernangomez from the rotation entirely to make room for a rookie who has only played a total of 64 minutes of organized basketball in the past two years and who still has concerns surrounding his durability?
That is the question that head coach Michael Malone is trying to answer and it seems like he has an idea of what he needs to do.
“My job is to try to find a way to squeeze him into it at some point,” Malone said on Tuesday morning after Denver’s final practice before the start of the regular season.
“I met with Michael last week to talk about the season, his preseason, and what to expect. As I told him, I recognize the potential he has. I recognize the talent and the fact that he has a chance to be a special player. My job is to — at some point — get him minutes so he can grow. He cannot go through this year and not play. Does that mean that he is going to play tomorrow night? Not at all. There are 82 games and a lot of things will happen throughout those 82 games to where I will find ways to get him in.”
Malone has said that he only wants to have a 10-man rotation which means that only two of Denver’s four small forwards will be regular contributors. It is still unknown who will start, but it seems all but set in stone that Barton and Craig have earned those two spots in Malone’s rotation.
That means Porter Jr. is seemingly on the outside looking in at a spot in Malone’s rotation despite his blatant talent, extreme potential, and obvious fit — a fact that has been tough for Porter Jr. to swallow. Against the Portland Trail Blazers in Denver’s fourth and final preseason game, Porter Jr.’s frustrations boiled over.
“I felt like the first few games I kind of stayed ready and stayed focused, and then that Portland game I got frustrated,” Porter Jr. explained.
“I just felt like I did not come into that game with the right mindset. I was kind of upset because I went in towards the end of the game when some of their bench guys were coming out. I just did not come in with good energy. So I texted (Malone), ‘coach, that is my fault’.”
While it is easy to see Porter Jr.’s frustrations as a red flag, the opposite may actually be true. When Porter Jr. was explaining his emotions from the last preseason game of the year, it was not with any sense of bitterness or entitlement, but more so with the understanding that this is just another way that he needs to grow as a person and as a player. As opposed to conveying anger for his lack of playing time, Porter Jr. displayed an aura of self-awareness that is rare in a player his age.
“That is why I sent coach that text asking him if I could talk to him,” Porter Jr. explained.
That singular text message was evidence of a growing suspicion — Porter Jr.’s mental approach to his first real NBA season has exceeded most expectations.
“What I like about Michael is that after that last Portland game, I got home that night and he sent me a text,” Malone explained. “He apologized for his play that night. He said ‘coach — no excuses — I did not play well tonight and that is on me; I have to be better and please do not judge me on just this game’ and I said ‘I would never do that for you or any other player’.”
Now that preseason is over and the regular season has arrived, Porter Jr. has to come to terms with the fact that he will not be playing nearly as many minutes as he would like, but what has been so encouraging is the Porter Jr. is not just accepting of the challenge of earning his minutes, but is embracing the opportunity to show that he does not need to be handed anything. He wants to earn his minutes and fully respects Malone’s decision to force him to fight for his role.
“I do,” Porter Jr. stated when he was asked if he respects the fact that Malone is making him earn his minutes. “…I respect that we already have guys who have won and got to the Western Conference [Semifinals]. So we have a great team and great players at my position. (Malone) has multiple players he could be playing. So for me to have to earn it, that just comes with it; it comes with being on a great team.”
Porter Jr. understands the fact that he will not be in the rotation immediately, but he still is looking for a level of transparency and communication between himself and the coaching staff about what his role is and how many minutes he can expect to play. Malone has happily obliged.
“For me, I just want to know what you are thinking,” Porter Jr. explained. “Where are you thinking that I fit in and this and that. For him to be transparent with me and kind of let me know gave me a good picture.”
Since that apologetic text message was sent by Porter Jr. to his head coach, the two of them have sat down to outline what role Porter Jr. will play to start the season, how he has played during the preseason, and how he can improve.
“I think he was appreciative of my honesty, letting him know where he stands right now, and what to expect,” Malone explained.
“I appreciate it a lot,” Porter Jr. explained. “I asked him if he had time to talk after practice one day and we had a good conversation. Now, for me as a player, being able to talk to coach whenever I want like that is big time for sure.”
Simply stated, Porter Jr.’s mental approach throughout the offseason and preseason has been the catalyst for his progression. He is not only improving, but improving in the right way. His game is growing in a way that is tailor-made for this Nuggets franchise and Porter Jr.’s willingness to fight for his minutes has impressed the front office, coaching staff, and his teammates alike.
“I want to make sure he is earning anything that is given to him which he has done so far,” Malone explained. “I think the players respect the fact that Mike is earning his minutes on the court.”
Now, all that is left is for Porter Jr. to get back to work and prove himself worthy of minutes and a full-time spot in Malone’s rotation which he is already mentally prepared for.
“I just have to keep trusting the process,” Porter Jr. explained. “We are going to be a great team so I need to keep trusting the process and just stay with coach, trusting him, and know that he is doing what is best for the team.
“I’ll be good. My time will come.”
