Cavs: 3 keys to a successful rookie season for Kevin Porter Jr.
By Dan Gilinsky
#2: Stay healthy and be fully bought-in
The Cleveland Cavaliers and general manager Koby Altman, in particular, have been harping on building a winning culture in the coming years that is full of individuals that are essentially all-in on the team-first mindset, having a great work ethic, and seemingly being over-achievers.
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Given the injury issues and suspension that made Porter have an underwhelming year at USC, he needs to focus on doing all he can to remain healthy throughout a grueling 82-game NBA season, and being mentally bought-in/becoming more mature.
Being around a four-year player in Windler, that Porter will likely play considerable minutes with next year, and being around players such as Collin Sexton, who has an amazing work ethic (as we’ve often mentioned here at KJG), and a veteran leader in Kevin Love should only help Porter grow as an person and a teammate.
Additionally, being involved with a coaching staff with assistants such as J.B. Bickerstaff, Lindsay Gottlieb, Antonio Lang and others that are fully-invested into player development and helping young pieces grow should give Porter a good support staff around him to develop gradually as the 2019-20 season progresses, and in the coming years to follow.
In short, Porter needs to become a player the coaching staff and organization can rely on to play meaningful minutes and be a team-first contributor through and through, and I believe he can be that.