Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kevin Porter Jr. shared a scary post on Friday.
I’m as big of a fan as everybody of Cleveland Cavaliers youngster Kevin Porter Jr. As a rookie bench contributor, he demonstrated big-time potential in his 23.2 minutes per outing in 2019-20, with averages of 10.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 0.9 steals.
The sky is the limit for this 20-year-old, who could become a star for the Wine and Gold down the road.
But that’s not what we’re going to focus on here. There was something troubling, scary and downright frightening that Porter posted on his Instagram on Friday.
The post has since been taken down, but the message posted, as shown by Cavaliers Nation’s Justin Benjamin, with a black image from Porter said as follows, with three emojis following it we won’t touch on as much here:
"“You ever wish to see the end of your time?”"
With that post in mind, the Cavs need to put their arms around KPJ.
I don’t know what Porter’s going through, but the Cleveland Cavaliers organization, head coach J.B. Bickerstaff and KPJ’s teammates need to reach out to him. I’m not suggesting they literally need to put their arms around Porter, and speaking to/seeing him individually, given this post and/or the novel coronavirus pandemic, obviously is feasible.
In any case, this post, which again was taken down, is really concerning for Porter. I again, don’t know what KPJ is going through, and I can’t say the Cavs/his teammates do, either.
I hope for Porter, his family and countless others’ sake, though, that Porter’s well-being recovers in due time. This suicidal post can not be taken lightly by the Cleveland Cavaliers organization, the coaching staff, his teammates, nor assuredly Kevin Porter Jr.’s loved ones.
KPJ, whose father, Kevin Porter Sr., passed away when KPJ was just 4 after being shot, is someone that KPJ and his family rightfully misses so dearly. It’s been quite a road for Porter, whose been as resilient as it gets, and Porter Sr.’s memory is why KPJ dons the #4, as one can see in this prior interview with Bleacher Report.
It’s clear as day that KPJ gets so much inspiration from his late father, who seemed to be a truly amazing human being, based on his family’s memory of him.
I just hope that Kevin Porter Jr. truly gets the help that he needs in what’s a difficult time for him, and his teammates, coaches and the organization I’d imagine will aid him in whatever way they can.
I’d imagine that Kevin Love, for one, is someone that, given his well-documented mental health struggles and constant effort to spread the awareness of the importance of mental health, could really aid KPJ in what he’s going through.
Moreover, the overall Cavaliers group needs to put their arms around Porter, perhaps figuratively, and reach out to him how ever way they can at this time.
In short, us Cavs fans and your organization loves you, KPJ. Be well.