Denver Nuggets: Michael Porter Jr. putting himself in elite company

Denver Nuggets rookie Michael Porter Jr. has put himself in Hall of Fame company.

After an uninspiring performance in the Denver Nuggets opening seeding game, rookie forward Michael Porter Jr. has been on a tear.

MPJ is averaging 33.5 points per game over the last two contests on 65.7% shooting from the field, 60.0% from three (7.5 attempts per game) and 92.3% from the free-throw line (6.5 attempts per game). He’s also been crashing the boards and active on defense, averaging 13.5 rebounds per game (3.0 offensive) and 1.0 block per game.

His stat lines from the team’s wins over the Oklahoma City Thunder (37 points and 12 rebounds, 75.0% shooting from the field) and San Antonio Spurs (30 points and 15 rebounds, 57.9% shooting from the field) have put him in elite company, with names such as Dikembe Mutombo and Shaquille O’Neal being connected to Porter after his pair of virtuoso performances.

After exploding for 37 points and 12 rebounds against the Thunder, MPJ became the youngest player to have such a stat line since Hall of Fame forward Alex English.

In the team’s last win, Porter became the first Nuggets’ rookie to record 30 points and 15 rebounds since Mutombo — another Hall of Famer — did so in 1992.

Porter is also the first rookie to score at least 65 points while shooting at least 65% from the field and to notch at least 25 rebounds over a two-game span since Shaq in 1992.

With his name being put in the company of three Hall of Famers, it makes since that his recent performances have also put him in the company of the league’s top rookies.

In fact, MPJ has scored the most points by a rookie this season, surpassing the 36 points put up by Miami Heat sharpshooter Kendrick Nunn against the Atlanta Hawks in December. The 15 rebounds he recorded against the Spurs are tied with New York Knicks wing RJ Barrett for the most rebounds by a rookie this season.

If the Indiana Pacers’ T.J. Warren wasn’t on a rampage himself, averaging 39.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.3 blocks and 2.0 steals per game in the Suns’ three bubble games, then it would be difficult to find a player who’s been better in Orlando. However, the Nuggets’ future with Porter looks bright.

So bright that there are now many who believe that Porter should remain a starter for the rest of the season.