HOUSTON (SportsRadio 610)- Kevin Porter Jr. walked into Toyota Center on Wednesday night with the intention of breaking James Harden’s Rockets record for most points in a single game against his former team, but his mindset changed as he looked to the other end of the floor and saw a bunch of his old Cavs teammates.
“Haven’t seen some guys since the trade,” Porter said after the Rockets 115-104 win. “There’s so many emotions going through. I’m just like, ‘Man, this is crazy, I’m playing against y’all now.’ I kind of was psyching myself out just having conversations with them on the side, and it kind of got me out of my killer mindset.”
Porter fell short of Harden’s 61-point effort, but his 17 points and eight assist output to go with just two turnovers, was another in a long stretch of solid performances for the 21-year old playing his first full season as a point guard, and before the game he drew raves from his former coach.
“He's carrying a lot more responsibility,” Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “They're putting the ball in his hand at ton and asking him to do a lot.
“I think we've seen how talented he is, the different things that he can do with the ball in his hands, and even defensively he can take on challenges, so I'm happy to see his progress, happy to see all his successes.”
Porter told SportsRadio 610 last month that he and Bickerstaff remain close and speak often, Bickerstaff explained Wednesday why he keeps such a close eye on a guy who no longer players for him.
“You don't spend that amount of time with someone and then easily just separate, and even though he went and created his own separate path, I watch him a ton, and support him from afar as best I can.”
Cleveland acquired Porter in a trade after he was selected with the final pick of the first round in 2019. He dealt with his fair share of issues in the 18 months with the Cavs and was ultimately traded following an outburst at a team official.
“You don't get into coaching, teaching or whatever, for yourself, you get into it to do for others, and you take great pride in seeing other people's achievements, especially people who you've spent a ton of time with, and build great relationships with, and have a true emotional connection. All you want to do is see those people be successful.”
Porter is averaging 13.4 points and 6.2 assists in 34 games this season.