Michael Porter Jr. (Image Credit: Getty Images)
The 2023 NBA champion Denver Nuggets are grappling with a challenging start to the new season. After a disappointing exit in the playoffs last year, where Michael Porter Jr.’s team lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round, the Nuggets have continued to face difficulties.
The Nuggets managed to win just one of five preseason games and hold a record of 2-3 in the regular season. Their season began with two straight losses, followed by a brief resurgence with two wins before falling once again to the Timberwolves in their most recent game.
The team’s struggles have raised concerns among its players, particularly Michael Porter Jr. He expressed his frustrations candidly, sharing the pressure the team is under to perform.
Michael Porter Jr. and Derrick White (Image Credit: Getty Images)“If we don’t win it this year, we all know they might have to break it up,” Porter said, according to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.
Porter Jr.’s concerns echo throughout the locker room, particularly for star center Nikola Jokic. The two-time MVP has also expressed his worries, urging the team to find solutions to their struggles soon.
Michael Porter Jr.’s Statistics This Season
Michael Porter Jr. has played in every game of the Denver Nuggets’ regular season this year. In the season opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder, he contributed 15 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists, shooting 5 for 17 from the field.
In the following match against the Los Angeles Clippers, Porter Jr. struggled, finishing with just 9 points. However, in the third game, he bounced back slightly, recording 13 points and 9 rebounds. During the Nuggets’ victory over the Brooklyn Nets, he added 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists while logging 41 minutes on the court.
Porter Jr.’s standout performance came in the Nuggets’ recent 119-116 loss, where he scored 26 points along with 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Over the course of the five games so far, he has averaged 13.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game.
