“Mix of Giannis and Kevin Durant”: When Michael Porter Jr confidently compared himself to Nets and Bucks MVPs prior to the 2018 NBA Draft

Michael Porter Jr compared himself to both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant prior to being drafted by the Nuggets in the 2018 Draft. 

Michael Porter Jr has exuded confidence ever since his days in high school. Then again, being the number 1 ranked player in the country would do wonders for anybody’s confidence. Even through back surgeries and being sidelined for the entirety of his rookie season from 2018-19, the former Missouri Tiger held his head high. 

The patience and work behind closed doors would eventually pay off as the Nuggets’ budding star would get major run-time alongside Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic during the 2020 NBA Playoffs. He would up his averages across the board from the regular season to the postseason and prove to be an incredibly valuable offensive threat for Denver.

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His progression from the 2020 season to the 2021 season was drastic as he averaged nearly 20 points per game while shooting an absurd 44% from beyond the arc. 

Michael Porter Jr compares himself to Giannis and Kevin Durant. 

Michael Porter Jr was certainly viewed as a high risk-high reward type draftee during the 2018 NBA draft. The Denver Nuggets bit at the end of the lottery and snagged him with the 14th overall pick. Fast-forward to today and he’s darn near an untouchable asset for Denver, especially with Jamal Murray out due to an ACL tear. 

Prior to being drafted in three years ago, Porter Jr was asked about who he believes he emulates with his play-style. It’s safe to say that the 23 year old has no problem with putting his name up alongside the greats. 

“Right now, I’m a mix of Giannis and Kevin Durant. You know, I like going to the hole a little more than KD does, I like bumping into people a little more physical than KD. I also like to shoot the ball more than Giannis. Then also Tracy McGrady. I get compared to him a lot and like that one a lot too.”

Michael Porter Jr: compares *himself* to Kevin Durant and Giannis, then says it’s an honor to be in the “same conversation” as them.

Meanwhile, he’s ~actually~ getting compared to Keith Van Horn and Harrison Barnes pic.twitter.com/VZMaDQ6DNz

— Ricky O’Donnell (@SBN_Ricky) June 19, 2018

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With the way Michael Porter Jr calmly steps into a pull-up 3, it’s no wonder why he got compared to guys like Kevin Durant and Tracy McGrady. The aforementioned offensive greats were notorious for their mastery over the pull-up jumpers. 

As for the Giannis comparison, though MPJ does not have the type of body that can barrel to the lane like the ‘Greek Freak’, he does have a great control over his own pace. Slowing down and speeding up as he drives down the lane is something he’s already gotten a hang of by merely his second professional season.