Since the start of the season, Craig Porter Jr. has already achieved some notable performances, against New York or Detroit (10 and 12 points). But there, it was in a victory against Denver, the defending champion, and that obviously takes on a greater dimension.
This is why the playmaker left with the match ball. “Donovan Mitchell gave it to me.”he slides for the Plain Dealer. And that’s also why a fan asked him for a photo, saying: “Hey you, you had a good match! I can take a picture ? » Without knowing his name yet, therefore.
He took advantage of absences to make his place
It must be said that Craig Porter Jr. (23 years old) only has a “two-way contract” in Cleveland. However, with 21 points at 7/10 shooting, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 interceptions, without forgetting a block and only 1 lost ball, in 25 minutes, he did a lot of harm to the Nuggets and a lot of good to the Cavaliers, deprived by Donovan Mitchell but also by Caris LeVert and Isaac Okoro.
” That’s crazy. Being in this team remains surprising to me,” comments the player. “But basically I just have to go out there and keep doing what I’m doing. I know I’m not here by chance. I just want to let it be known. »
Undrafted, Craig Porter Jr. was not supposed to have such opportunities at the start of the season. The absence of Ricky Rubio, who has not yet played to take care of his mental health, plus Ty Jerome’s ankle injury, after only two matches, propelled him to the forefront. Which wasn’t really planned.
“If you look at the team at the time of training camp, we had all the pieces. But obviously, with injuries and everything else, you have to stay ready,” he delivers. “That’s one of the things people said to me at the start of the season, after training camp. You never know when you’re going to be called. »
A fair player
Achieving such a performance against Nikola Jokic and his gang can only boost his confidence. “Every game, she grows and grows. The coach believes in me, the players push me”confirms the leader.
With this surprise guest, the Cavaliers have therefore found an additional option in the lead. Something to rejoice in JB Bickerstaff.
“He has proven that he is capable of helping”notes the coach in particular. “He is mature. He’s an old rookie and we have the feeling that we can trust him, that he is not destabilized in these moments. So it’s easy to put him on the floor, we know what he’s going to do. Many young players, rookies are looking for each other. Craig knows his game and doesn’t do what he doesn’t know how to do. »
| Craig Porter, Jr. | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2023-24 | KEY | 7 | 10 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 0.1 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 4.4 |
| Total | 7 | 10 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 0.1 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 4.4 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
