Despite his red-hot form, Michael Porter Jr. making his first All-Star Game always was a long shot. The first fan returns of voting Monday showed just how long.
Porter sat 10th in the Eastern Conference with 150,370 votes, with five starters getting voted in from each conference.
The veteran forward entered Monday’s tilt vs. Golden State, a 120-107 loss to the visiting Warriors, averaging 25.7 points and 7.3 rebounds. He’s the only player in the East — and one of just five in the league — averaging 25 points and seven boards, having gone from third option on a title-winning Nuggets squad to leading a rebuilding Nets team.
He bettered those numbers in Monday’s loss, finishing with 27 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals.
“Mike is a leader by example. He shows up, always been very professional since I got to know him at 19 years old. He’s worked on his body, came in and did his work. Obviously, that shot is pure, but he puts a lot of time into it,” Nets coach Jordi Fernández said. “He makes open shots, contested shots and impossible shots.” That’s the work that not a lot of people see and his teammates see it.
“And he always does it with a smile on his face; all his teammates appreciate that. When you get to touch everybody in the facility every day and you’re a positive energy, that’s important. You don’t have to say much. You don’t have to use empty words. He just has that smile, and his teammates generally like him. He shows them what a true pro is, who’s been in the league and has won a championship. He’s in a different context here, and he’s making it work.”
Porter — making $38 million this season and $40 million the next — is eligible to be extended in July for a max of four years and $243 million. The Nets have to decide whether to build around him or cash in on Porter at high ebb.
Ziaire Williams was available after being probable with a sprained right ankle.
The Liberty’s new coach — Chris DeMarco — was a four-time NBA champion as an assistant with Golden State.
“We just went and saw his new office. What a strange day for him, to come to his new arena, go to his new office, come back to our locker room, help us play a game, try to win a game, and then that’s it. He’s staying here,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “It’s almost surreal. So, he’s been a great coach, great friend. I’m going to miss him. Twelve years with him, and hugely valuable to our team.
“He watches everything. He was constantly keeping his finger on the pulse of the game, wherever. FIBA, European basketball, he studies the trends. He loves the game. And he’s also just a great dude; he’s really fun to be around and to collaborate with. He’s smart, but he doesn’t have to be the smartest guy in the room. … [His] experience will certainly help. But bottom line, he’s a hell of a basketball coach. He’s a great guy. He’s going to do a really good job..”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
