Michael Porter Jr. is in the middle of the most efficient season of his career - and one of the most efficient in the league, period. Yet when the All-Star reserves were announced, his name was left off the list. And while he’s not the type to stir the pot, Porter didn’t hide his disappointment.
“I thought I had a chance, for sure,” he said Tuesday. “But I knew it was out of my control… That was a tough day, because I thought there was a chance, but today’s a new day. I’m still blessed, I’m still highly favored, and I’m excited to be able to do what I do, whether I got the All-Star or not.”
It’s a grounded, mature response from a player who has every reason to feel snubbed. Porter is averaging 25.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists while shooting 48.2% from the field, 39.8% from three, and 85.1% from the line - elite numbers by any measure.
In fact, he’s one of just seven players in the league putting up 25+ points per game while shooting over 48% overall and nearly 40% from deep. That group includes MVP-caliber names like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Kevin Durant.
Porter is the only one not headed to Indianapolis.
That’s a tough pill to swallow, especially when you stack up the numbers.
The Eastern Conference reserve spots went to Donovan Mitchell, Jalen Johnson, Scottie Barnes, Jalen Duren, Pascal Siakam, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Norman Powell. Mitchell, Johnson, Barnes, and Duren were widely expected to make the cut. That left three spots - and Porter found himself in a numbers game with Siakam, Towns, and Powell.
By the numbers, Porter had the edge.
He leads that group in scoring average and effective field goal percentage. His +11.8 net rating swing - the difference in the Nets’ performance when he’s on the floor versus off - ranks eighth in the entire NBA among players with at least 700 minutes logged.
Only seven players are ahead of him in that category, and Siakam is one of them at +14.1. But Towns and Powell?
They trail behind Porter in several key metrics, including scoring efficiency and on/off impact.
So what held him back?
The Nets’ 13-34 record certainly didn’t help. Coaches tend to reward winning, and Brooklyn hasn’t done much of that this season.
But that logic doesn’t fully hold up when you consider Siakam’s inclusion. The Pacers haven’t exactly been lighting the world on fire either, and yet Siakam - who was recently traded from Toronto - got the nod.
That suggests team record wasn’t the only factor.
This feels like one of those classic All-Star conundrums: do you reward winning, or do you reward individual excellence? Porter’s numbers scream All-Star, but the Nets’ struggles likely dulled the shine just enough for coaches to look elsewhere.
Still, the door isn’t completely closed. With Giannis Antetokounmpo nursing a calf strain, there’s a chance Porter could be named as an injury replacement. If that happens, it would be a well-earned recognition for a player who’s quietly been one of the most efficient scorers in the league this year.
Whether he gets the call or not, Porter’s breakout season is hard to ignore. He’s proving he’s more than just a complementary piece - he’s playing like a star. And if he keeps this up, it won’t be long before the league has no choice but to give him his due.