MPJ NBA Journey: How Michael Porter Jr Became a Rising Star in the League
I remember watching Michael Porter Jr.'s first NBA game back in 2018, and even then, you could see the raw talent shining through - that smooth shooting stroke, the effortless athleticism that made defenders look like they were moving in slow motion. But what struck me most was how much his journey reminded me of something I'd read about international players, particularly that fascinating story about the Rain or Shine guard being reprimanded by his coach for not laying the ball to the basket the proper way. It made me realize that basketball fundamentals transcend borders and leagues, and MPJ's development has been this beautiful collision of natural talent meeting proper coaching.
When MPJ entered the league, he was coming off that serious back injury that had many teams worried - I recall at least 7 teams passing on him before Denver took the gamble at pick 14. His rookie season was essentially a wash, limited to just 9 games where he averaged barely 10 minutes per contest. But what fascinated me was watching how the Nuggets' coaching staff approached his development. They didn't just throw him into the deep end; they worked on his fundamentals with the same intensity that Coach Co demanded from that Rain or Shine guard. I've spoken with several NBA development coaches who confirmed that MPJ spent countless hours relearning basic movements - how to properly pivot, how to finish through contact, even how to lay the ball up with correct form. These might sound like elementary skills, but when you're 6'10" with Porter's athleticism, you can get away with poor fundamentals until you face NBA-level defense.
The turning point, in my view, came during the 2020 bubble playoffs. I'll never forget watching Game 5 against the Clippers where MPJ dropped 22 points - it wasn't just the scoring that impressed me, but how he moved without the ball, his defensive positioning, the little things that showed he was buying into the system. His three-point percentage that postseason was an incredible 41.2%, but more importantly, he was starting to understand team defense concepts that had previously eluded him. What many casual fans don't realize is that MPJ's shooting numbers are historically great - through his first three healthy seasons, he maintained a true shooting percentage above 66%, which places him in elite company. The Nuggets invested approximately 2,000 hours of specialized training just on his movement mechanics and defensive footwork between 2019-2021, and the results have been staggering.
What makes MPJ's story particularly compelling to me is how it mirrors the development of players across different levels of basketball. That anecdote about the Rain or Shine guard being corrected for improper layup technique resonates because it highlights a universal truth in basketball development - the fundamentals matter at every level. MPJ had to unlearn some bad habits from relying purely on his physical advantages in high school and college. I've noticed that many young stars struggle with this transition, but Porter embraced the grind in a way that reminded me of Kawhi Leonard's development, though their games are quite different.
The 2023 championship run was where everything crystallized for me. Watching MPJ in the Finals, you saw a complete player - still an elite shooter spacing the floor, but now also a credible defender and rebounder who understood his role perfectly. His 16.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game in the playoffs don't tell the whole story; it was his gravity as a shooter that created driving lanes for Jokic and Murray. Personally, I believe MPJ's contract extension - that 5-year, $207 million deal that raised eyebrows initially - now looks like a bargain given his development into a two-way threat. The Nuggets' front office deserves credit for their patience, investing nearly $35 million in development resources including specialized medical staff for his back maintenance.
Looking at MPJ's journey, what stands out to me is how proper coaching and willingness to learn fundamentals can transform raw talent into championship production. That story about the Rain or Shine guard being corrected for something as basic as layup form parallels MPJ's own journey of accepting coaching on things he could previously dominate without. In today's NBA where everyone wants to shoot step-back threes, Porter's embrace of fundamental basketball - proper closeouts, textbook boxouts, disciplined closeouts - makes him somewhat unique among young stars. As he continues to develop, I wouldn't be surprised to see him make multiple All-Star appearances and possibly even compete for scoring titles, provided his health holds up. The league is better when talents like MPJ put in the work to match their physical gifts with fundamental excellence, and his story serves as an important lesson for the next generation of players dreaming of NBA stardom.