If the Denver Nuggets want to make a meaningful run to the NBA Finals in a wide-open Western Conference, the most important part of that success will be Michael Porter Jr. No, I’m not joking.
Yes, yes, I know. Two-time defending NBA MVP Nikola Jokic and NBA Bubble legend Jamal Murray are Denver’s top two players, but we’ve seen what they bring to the table. They are known entities. Michael Porter Jr., not so much.
We’ve seen what MPJ is capable of since the Nuggets drafted him number 14 overall in 2018, but only glimpses and snapshots (including a hot start to this season, which we were expecting), never enough sustained production to really get an idea of just how good this team could be with him on the floor and in the zone every night.
The 24-year-old has had his highs and his lows, getting highs like Mount Evans and lows like Flo Rida.
So, what does MPJ need to do to make sure that he contributes his best season as a pro in 2022-2023 while avoiding the pitfalls that have affected him negatively in seasons past? Here are four goals for Michael Porter Jr. to strive for during this campaign.