Craig Porter Jr. of the Cleveland Cavaliers is always proud to prove people wrong and he’s been doing so all season long.
He went undrafted in the summer and many fans didn’t expect much out of him when he was signed by the Cavaliers.
But he’s had a strong rookie season so far and credits that to his determination, skills, and the influence of a legendary point guard: Rajon Rondo.
“He was just one of those guys who could do everything…he affects the game in so many ways,” Porter told Alex Kennedy on Running Up The Score.
Running Up The Score starts NOW! Cleveland Cavaliers rookie Craig Porter joins me to discuss:
π Terrific rookie season
π Toughest player heβs guarded
π Studying Rajon Rondo
π Support from Cavs fans
π What he learned in JUCOWATCH: https://t.co/XjqLmh6hBI
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) January 24, 2024
Porter said that he studied Rondo’s game a lot when he was a young boy, trying to find a way to make it onto the basketball court in high school.
Porter, just six-foot-two, knew that he had a lot working against him and would have to make an impact on the floor if he wished to play full-time.
He paid close attention to Rondo, who was dominating the league with the Boston Celtics at the time.
Rondo was known as more than just a shot-maker and was excellent at creating assists and reading the floor.
All that studying of Rondo seems to have paid off because Porter is turning heads during his first year in the league.
He is averaging 7.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 3.1 assists in 2023-24.
More impressively, he is shooting 51.2% from the floor and also proving that he has serious defensive skills.
The league is filled with a ton of rookies generating a lot of attention and Porter is one of them.
He has worked against assumptions and doubt and is creating a name for himself on a very talented team.
NEXT: Cavs Have A Firm Position About Trading Donovan Mitchell
