Kevin Porter Jr has become one of the most unique characters in the NBA in the just three seasons that have passed since the Milwaukee Bucks you will be selected as draft number 30. The forward has earned the reputation of being controversial in these three years and continues to increase it with actions such as the one he starred in the last confrontation between the Houston Rockets y los Denver Nuggets.
As revealed Shams Charania, periodista de The Athletic, the player came to the locker room at half-time and maintained a heated discussion with John Lucas, assistant coach of the Rockets. The coach blamed the player for his poor performance during the first half of the game against the Colorado franchise (eight points, three assists and one stopper) which caused the anger of Porter, who after throwing several objects in the dressing room left the pavilion before starting the second half.
The discussion had a third protagonist in the figure of Christian Wood, the star of the team who did not start after refusing to pass an antigen test. Wood faced his coach and refused to come out in the second half, although unlike Porter he did remain on the bench.
PORTER, HABITUAL SUSPICIOUS
Kevin Porter has earned a reputation for conflict in the NBA for his erratic and conflictive behaviors, which have even led to him being fined by the league itself.
His talent was overshadowed by several chapters of indiscipline such as when he was arrested for possession of weapons and marijuana and hung up certain cryptic messages that raised suspicions about his mental health. Especially during the pandemic when he set off alarms within the Cavaliers with a post asking his supporters: “Have you ever wished to see the end of your time?”.
Months later the relationship between the player and the Ohio franchise exploded. The 20-year-old bodyguard he flew into a rage in the locker room after seeing how the box office had been moved to the reserved place for less habitual players to make room for Jarrett Allen and Taurean Prince, the new signings of the team.
Porter started yelling at the team’s general manager. Koby Altman, whom he accused of “modern slavery” by the attitude of the team towards him, by keeping him apart. After the incident, the franchise asked Porter Jr. to collect his belongings, prohibiting entry into its facilities and causing his departure from Cleveland.
THE ROCKETS BET ON HIM
The player came to the Rockets and seemed to forget his discipline problems. However, it was not long before he was sanctioned with $ 50,000 of fine for violating competition health and safety protocols after I came with Rockets teammate Sterling Brown to a Miami nightclub in early April. His escape also resulted in a serious incident, as Brown was attacked by several assailants outside the club. He received several blows to the back of the head with a bottle and ended up drenched in blood.
In the meantime, Porter also has time to play basketball. And to do it very well, as he demonstrated in the Rockets’ surprising victory over the Bucks. The shooting guard achieved his best professional record by scoring 50 points, including nine triples, and distributing 11 assists in his best game in the NBA. Porter Jr. became the youngest player to record a 50-point double-double with 10 assists and the fourth in NBA history to achieve that scoring mark before his 21st birthday to join Brandon Jennings, LeBron James and Devin Booker.