Freed from the shadow of Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray in Denver, Michael Porter Jr . vowed to become a go-to scorer with the Nets . Over the last five games since Cam Thomas went down with a hamstring injury, he’s done exactly that.

The former NBA champion has averaged 27.3 points over that stretch, highlighted by a season-high 34 on 11-for-18 shooting in Brooklyn’s 129-106 win over the Wizards on Sunday. His turnovers have climbed to 2.3 per game from 1.4 last season in Denver and his overall efficiency has dipped slightly, but his shot-making has been undeniable. He’s also getting to the free throw line more frequently than at any point in his career, a sign of his growing assertiveness as a primary scorer.

There’s still work to be done if Porter is going to fully grow into this

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