Craig Porter Jr. Is Becoming The Cavaliers’ Much-Needed Floor General
Cleveland Cavaliers 6-foot-2 guard Craig Porter Jr. was an all-around threat during his college career.
As a senior at Wichita State last season, he led the team in rebounds (6.2), assists (4.9), steals (1.5), and blocks (1.5) per game, while ranking second in points per game (13.5).
Even at the junior college level, Porter Jr. averaged 11.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.1 steals, and 2.1 blocks per contest in 65 games at Vincennes University, helping them win the 2019 NJCAA National Championship.
After he signed a Two-Way contract with Cleveland as an undrafted free agent in early July, the Cavaliers got a first-hand look at his versatile skill set in the NBA 2K24 Summer League in Las Vegas.
In six games (three starts), the 23-year-old averaged 12.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per contest, as the Wine and Gold won their first Summer League Championship in franchise history.
Now, Porter Jr.’s all-around ability is consistently translating to the NBA at a time when Cleveland needs it most.
According to @statmuse on X, he is the only rookie in the league averaging at least 10 points, five rebounds, and five assists per game in starts this season.
In five starts for the Cavaliers, Porter Jr. is averaging 11.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game. After his first career NBA start on November 22, he has been Cleveland’s starting point guard in its last four games, in which the team has gone 3-1.
Porter Jr. was a critical part of the Wine and Gold’s 20-point comeback win over the Dallas Mavericks last night, tallying career-highs of 12 rebounds and three steals, while adding nine points and seven assists.
Dec 27, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Craig Porter Jr. (9) drives to the basket as Dallas Mavericks forward Derrick Jones Jr. (55) defends during the first quarter at American Airlines Center.
© Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
After last night’s game, Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff described how important the rookie is to the team.
“He’s a hooper. And his journey, the years that he’s spent in [basketball], his maturity, the places that he’s seen, just give him a poise and a confidence to just go be himself. He’s not trying to be anybody else, and that’s who he is. He’s a stat sheet stuffer. He’s a guy with a high IQ who knows how to impact the game.”
Cleveland has now won five of its last six games, currently holding an 18-13 record and the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference.
With star point guard Darius Garland out for several more weeks with a fractured jaw, Ty Jerome missing Cleveland's last 29 games with a right ankle sprain, and Ricky Rubio away from the team indefinitely, Porter Jr. is giving Cleveland the floor general that it needs to continue to succeed.
