Why Michael Porter Jr. earned his max extension from the Nuggets

Here’s what you need to know from Nuggets Media Day.

Michael Max Contract Extension Jr.

What we’ve hypothesized, debated and discussed for months is finally agreed upon. The Nuggets and Michael Porter came to terms Monday afternoon on a five-year, $172 million max rookie extension that will kick in prior to start the 2022-23 season.

If Porter makes an All-NBA team this season, his contract increases to a total of $207 million guaranteed, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. There’s no player option on the fifth-year of Porter’s deal, according to the Denver Post’s Mike Singer, either. That goes along with the Nuggets’ M.O. on these max extensions. Both Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray’s five-year max contracts didn’t contain player options on the fifth season. It’s an underrated aspect of how the Nuggets have done business under this front office.

It’s a lot of money, sure. But Porter’s easily worth it. At 22-years-old in just his second NBA season, Porter averaged 19 points, 7.3 rebounds and almost one block per game while shooting 54.3% from the floor and 44.5% from three. It was the second-most efficient 19+ point per game season in NBA history behind Wilt Chamberlain’s 1966-67 MVP year.

Think about that.

In the playoffs last season, Porter quietly averaged 17.4 points and shot 40% from 3-point range. Across his first two regular seasons, Porter shot over 40% from three, making him along with Steph Curry and Klay Thompson the only three active players to do that in each of their first two seasons (minimum 100 3-point attempts).

Think about that.

The bottom line is that Porter is a generational shooter, on pace to be an all-time 3-point marksman, and one of the best shooters in the NBA right now. But he’s a lot more than just that. He’s a gifted rebounder and someone who over the second half of last season started to discover how to use his length at the rim to block shots. Porter’s work ethic is one of his calling cards too.

It’s how Porter gained the respect of the Nuggets’ locker room over the last two seasons. I’ve heard from multiple players over the last 12 months or so who remarked that Porter’s work ethic is what first helped him gain the respect of the Nuggets’ locker room. It’s not overlooked how hard Porter grinds on the Nuggets’ practice court during the season and how seriously he takes his craft throughout the summer months. With this max contract, Denver’s betting big that Porter’s work ethic doesn’t let up.

Also, a note on Tim Connelly and how he’s constructed this core. Connelly drafted Nikola Jokic 41st overall in 2014. In 2016, he selected Jamal Murray 7th. In 2018, Connelly scooped up Porter at No. 14. As the Nuggets enter the 2021-22 season, every member of Denver’s unquestioned core, all of whom were drafted by Connelly, are all under max contract extensions.

It feels unprecedented in this era of the NBA. The Warriors re-signed all members of their original Big 3 after their first contracts were up, but those weren’t three max deals. The Thunder almost got there with Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden, but traded Harden to the Rockets in 2012 before agreeing to an extension with him.

It’s how a team in Denver should be built. Connelly doesn’t skip steps.

We haven’t seen the last of Coach Murray

One of the lasting images from last year’s first-round playoff matchup was Jamal Murray talking trash to Zach Collins and the rest of the Portland Trail Blazers. A similar scene could play out often once this season starts.

Murray doesn’t have a return date or timetable to get back on the floor following ACL surgery, but he’ll be active and around the team until then, especially when on the sidelines. Denver’s point guard said Monday that he’ll be with the Nuggets on most road trips — on some shorter trips Murray could stay back since his knee sometimes still swells up on flights — and will even be in charge of some pregame scouting reports for upcoming opponents.

But while Murray will be engaged and active, he’ll hardly be thrilled with that role. You could even tell Monday that while Murray is in a good space mentally, living without basketball for these last five months has worn on him. Murray said he “was sick” watching his teammates play 5-on-5 at practice. While he can work on his shot every day, it’s hardly a substitute for playing in live drills and game-like situations.

Currently, Murray’s focus is running and running perfectly. That’s the stage he’s at in his rehab. He’s trying to perfect running forward, backward, in a straight line and from side-to-side. It’s slow and steady, but Murray says he’s continuing to make progress.

“When you put a ball in my hand I move side to side a lot faster,” he joked.

Murray has rehabbed in Phoenix, Denver and visited with his doctor in Los Angeles this summer. He also spent one month back home in Kitchener and hung out with his family, his brother and went camping. Murray has spoken with fellow ACL rehabbers Zach LaVine, Victor Oladipo, Spencer Dinwiddie and Klay Thompson throughout the offseason too.

Above all, he’s trying to keep the long view.

“I dont want to come back when I’m 85% no matter where the team’s at,” Murray said. “I want to come back when it feels like I can play with the same amount of force that I can normally play at. I don’t want to be babying it at all or overthinking it at all.”

You have to feel for the guy. Here’s a basketball addict who admitted Monday that over the last five months that he hasn’t picked up any hobbies during his downtime. Murray’s still living, breathing and thinking basketball 24/7 even though a long road of rehab is still standing between him and his return to the floor.

“I can do certain things, but I can’t do it for long,” said Murray. “In my mind, I can play 1-on-1. I can get to my shot. I can get to my spot. But that’s me talking. That’s not from a medical standpoint of what I’m supposed to be doing.”

“It’s been 159 days since my surgery. You can tell I’m locked in when I know stats like that.”

Until he returns, Murray and the Nuggets are confident that they’ll be able to tread water and then some. Monte Morris is a fine fill-in as a starter. Behind him, Facu Campazzo is a battle-tested backup. Will Barton, Austin Rivers and PJ Dozier have all proven that they can be reliable.

Bones Hyland is the ultimate wildcard. Connelly made it sound like Monday that the rookie is closer to contributing than Denver originally thought when the Nuggets drafted him back in July. If he can provide a change of pace option off Denver’s bench, the Nuggets will be more than OK.

And the free-throw contest where Murray allegedly beat Hyland with his left hand and then promptly took to Twitter to rub it in the rookie’s face definitely happened.

Twice, according to Murray.

“I beat him with the left twice from the free-throw line,” said Murray. “I’ve been working on my left a lot, just straight out of boredom.”