Cavs’ Kevin Porter Jr.’s post highlights how he’s already fan favorite

A recent post by Cleveland Cavaliers rookie Kevin Porter Jr. highlights how he’s already a fan favorite for his play and how he’s embraced Cleveland.

Throughout this 2019-20 season, I’ve been so encouraged by the play of Cleveland Cavaliers rookie Kevin Porter Jr. 

He has had his growing pains, that’s fair to say, as have other Cleveland young players, but it’s evident that Porter is one of the more promising Cavs on their roster.

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Porter’s potential as a two-way contributor is sky high, too, and even as a bench contributor, he’s made a quite an impact with his minutes.

In 23.2 minutes per game thus far this season, Porter has averaged 10.0 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists, and he’s had his share of big moments. That includes a career-high 30-point game in a fourth quarter comeback over the Miami Heat in late February, for example.

Additionally, before he suffered a concussion, leading him to miss nearly the Cavs’ last four games leading into the NBA season’s novel coronavirus-induced hiatus, Porter was continuing to showcase his ability to make plays for himself and others.

Porter had a bit of a rough patch overall post-All-Star, but in his last 12 games active, KPJ had 12.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.0 steals per outing, per NBA.com.

That included him having an assist rate of 17.1 percent, and he shot 35.6 percent from three-point range, and while overall on the season it hasn’t been the case as it’s been a 25.7 percent hit rate, KPJ hit 38.1 percent of his pull-up triples in that span, per NBA.com’s shot tracking data.

Moreover, what is also clear is that Porter is go grateful for the Cleveland Cavaliers embracing him as a key part of their future, and KPJ has seemed to love the fan base and/or Cleveland.

Porter was acquired via draft night trade and formally drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks, but his rights were to the Detroit Pistons, who had acquired that pick via trade before the 2019 NBA Draft.

From there, the Cavaliers sent then four future second-round picks and a record $5 million of cash considerations to Detroit in exchange for KPJ’s rights. He’s proven to be well worth that, though, and is again, such a promising player.

Porter is a player the Cleveland Cavaliers seem so high on, and for good reason. Along with that, a recent post by KPJ highlights how he’s already a fan favorite.

On Porter’s Instagram, he alluded to how he is “all in” seemingly with the city of Cleveland/the Cavs, as h/t Cavaliers Nation’s Orel Dizon.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAjxTjFH9tM/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

KPJ has not been here long, but this sort of post is amazing to see from him and it plays so well to an ever-loyal Cavs’ fan base.

The 20-year-old is a player that gives it all he has and more on the floor, and while he’ll continue to have some growing pains in the future, as young players do in rebuilds, he’ll continue to get better. In coming years, KPJ’s role will definitely expand as an on-ball creator, too, and the Cavs’ fan base’s love for him is already so passionate even now, and rightfully so.

In terms of this season, it is also reportedly likely that the league will have a season resumption with play likely starting up again in late July. The NBA is in “exploratory conversations” with the Walt Disney Company about having a season resumption via centralized site at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney, per an announcement from NBA Chief Communications Officer Mike Bass on Saturday.

Per ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, the league fully anticipates to have some sort of resumption, unless “unforeseen” circumstances arise. Granted, Shelburne alluded to how it’s not clear if regular season play will resume or if the NBA season “will proceed directly to the playoffs.”

It is still a possibility that the Cavs have more 2019-20 games at this point, though, and that’d be meaningful for pieces such as Collin Sexton, Kevin Love, Cedi Osman, KPJ and Darius Garland, especially in the pick-and-roll creation sense.

Whether or not we see more of the Cleveland Cavaliers and KPJ in game action this season, however, this post from KPJ highlights how the Wine and Gold’s fan base is all-in on Porter, and he seems “all in” regarding them/the city of Cleveland, too.

I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Porter in years to come, and his role will only grow going forward as a key perimeter piece for Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff and company.