Michael Porter Jr. is one of the league's best young talents. Over the course of the 2020-21 season, the Denver Nuggets forward averaged 19.0 PPG and 7.3 APG, while shooting 54.2% from the field and 44.5% from beyond the arc. Those are very good numbers for a player who just finished his second year in the league, and he likely can improve even further.
Generally, players who make massive improvements in their game become candidates for the Most Improved Player award. Based on his successful second season and his potential, Michael Porter Jr. will likely be among the names to watch in that particular award race. However, it seems as though Michael Porter Jr. is more concerned about team success with the Denver Nuggets, and he stated that he'd rather "have a ring" over winning individual accolades.
There is no question that the upcoming season will be a big one for Porter Jr., and he has previously stated that his goal is to "definitely become an All-Star" during the 2021-22 season. While it definitely feels as though Michael Porter Jr. is thinking about the Denver Nuggets winning first and himself second, his individual performance will be crucial in the Denver Nuggets making the playoffs. Jamal Murray will miss time next season, and the Nuggets will need someone to step up offensively next to Nikola Jokic while Murray recovers from an ACL injury. There's no better candidate than Porter Jr.
We'll see how the Denver Nuggets end up doing next season, but it seems as though they'll still be a solid team during the regular season, and potentially go up to "contender tier" when Jamal Murray eventually returns. Hopefully, we get to see Michael Porter Jr. shine next season, and it will certainly be amazing to see what he can do in a bigger role.
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