Denver Nuggets: Can Michael Porter Jr become an All-Star next season?

Denver Nuggets small forward Michael Porter Jr is coming off of the best season of his short NBA career. At only 23 years of age, there’s reason to believe that the best is yet to come.

In only his second full season after sitting out his rookie season with an injury, he averaged 19 points and 7.3 rebounds while shooting 54.2 percent from the field and 44.5 percent from 3-point land. The 6-foot-10 forward is an offensive juggernaut, drawing comparisons to a young Kevin Durant, but even the great KD didn’t shoot this efficiently in his second full season.

Needless to say, Nuggets fans have a lot to be excited about when it comes to the potential growth of a young MPJ. However, the Western Conference is overflowing with talented players. So, what does Michael Porter Jr need to do to become an All-Star next season? The answer is simple. Be a consistent number two for this Denver Nuggets squad.

Due to Jamal Murray’s ACL tear back in April, there will be a vacancy as the second scoring option behind the MVP, Nikola Jokic. With Murray not slated to return until at least a couple of months into the season, this is MPJ’s chance to take a big leap in terms of offensive production.

MPJ was elite in the regular season games after Jamal went down, averaging 23.5 points while shooting 56 percent from the floor and a scorching 49 percent from 3-point range on nearly eight attempts a night.

As the second option for Denver, it meant more 3-pointers, more transition buckets, and more reliance on him in crunch-time situations.

At the time that Murray went down, MPJ had only played nine games with 30-plus minutes and less than 14 shot attempts. Following the injury, that number plummeted to three. In that same span, the Nuggets went 3-1 in contests where MPJ scored 30 or more points, they only had a 1-1 record in those games with Jamal Murray.

Barring injuries to other players in the West, it is unlikely that MPJ can be a starter for the All-Star team as long as LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, and Anthony Davis play in that conference. The reserves are another matter entirely.

The head coaches choose the All-Star reserves, not the fans. Becoming a solidified second option for these Denver Nuggets while Jamal is inactive could give him the freedom he needs in order to get some real All-Star consideration.

If he can extend the post-Murray sample out for an entire season, there’s reason to believe he might be able to sneak in.

It’s rare that you see one NBA team boast three All-Stars in the same season. Given the nature of Jamal Murray’s injury, he most likely out of the running for All-Star next season, giving Nikola Jokic and Michael Porter Jr a chance to be All-Star teammates for the first time. Only if MPJ is ready to elevate his game to the next level.