Kevin Porter Jr. Inks $82.5 Million Extension with Houston Rockets
The 22-year-old Kevin Porter Jr. has reached a four-year contract extension with the Houston Rockets.
The Houston Rockets have signed rising star point guard Kevin Porter Jr. to a four-year, $82.5 million contract extension. The Porter extension has a unique structure though, per Shams Charania of The Athletic. Charania mentioned that the deal is only guaranteed in the first year when Porter earns $15.86 in the 2023-24 season. From that point, Porter has to prove his worth and stability, with the Rockets holding all the cards from the second to the fourth year of the deal.
The Rockets’ hesitation to offer Porter an entirely guaranteed multi-year contract could stem from the fact that the latter has faced issues on and off the court. Behavioral problems marred his initial stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and a heated in-game conversation with Rockets assistant coach John Lucas was a down point in his current stint with the Rockets.
Still, there’s no question that Porter has a bright future in the NBA — that is if he stays focused on improving his game and helping his team rack up the wins. The 6-foot-3 scoring point guard put up an impressive stat line of 15.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and 1.1 steals last season, including a career-best 37.5% from the three-point line. He has always shown an excellent knack for putting the ball through the hoop, but it’s the continuous development of his playmaking ability that is increasing his stock value.
Kevin Porter Jr. and the Rockets won’t exactly take over the league this season, but it’s important that they build the necessary winning habits at this stage of their respective careers. This team is filled with young, talented players still gaining much-needed experience. They selected Jabari Smith Jr. in this year’s draft, a 6-foot-10 modern big man who provides high impact on both ends of the floor. Jalen Green, Porter’s partner in the backcourt, is already one of the best young scorers in the league. The Rockets won’t be a contender this season, but they have the right tools to rebuild their future.