Michael Porter Jr.

Still somewhere atop the list of players opposing defenses can’t leave unguarded along the perimeter, Michael Porter Jr. used his distinguishably-high elevation to impact the Denver Nuggets’ offense in a different way on December 3, 2024. Often seen imposing his will through paint play against the Golden State Warriors, Porter reaps the benefits of his floor-running hustle, positioning himself as a potential reinforcement amidst a three-on-three fastbreak fray. Immediate in his reaction after his teammate’s too-strong layup attempt bounces off the backboard, Porter treats it as an alley-oop, powering it through for a one-handed flush. Plays of that caliber were much-needed during the Nuggets’ memorable second half, highlighted by a victory, even after trailing by double-digits in the final half-quarter. Ambition, and a more inside-the-arc offensive attack could be found in Porter’s end-of-game box score too, as the sixth-year star registered 22 points (on 8-of-14 shooting), seven rebounds, two assists, one steal, and a 3-pointer.