CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers were in need of a backup point guard they could trust. Through the summer and training camp, a 23-year-old rookie began to emerge.
He was thrown into the fire in a way, as the Cavs had a turnstile-like injury report with their guards, including Darius Garland . But, quickly, Craig Porter Jr. has proven he can handle the heat.
Porter, who was a five-year player in college at Vincennes University and then Witchita State, has played a much larger role early in the season than anyone could have reasonably predicted a month ago. Garland, Donovan Mitchell , Isaac Okoro and Caris LeVert have all missed time at different intervals early this season.
The Max Strus effect: The Cavs finally get to see the impact Max Strus can have on the starting lineup
Porter has played double-digit minutes in four games this season, including 20-plus minutes twice. He's reached double figures in scoring in three of those games.
And, even as a rookie, Porter has earned the trust of the Cavs coaching staff to handle that role for as long as needed.
"Honestly, it was more about summer league and training camp than it was just a moment in these small periods of time," said Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff about when he saw something in Porter. "He's not hunting or searching to figure out who he is. He knows exactly who he is, he knows how to gets to his spots and when and how to be aggressive.
"So you just have belief and trust in a guy who always seems to be composed and never over his skis."
Porter certainly didn't think he'd be in this position. He was an undrafted free agent who signed a two-way contract. He thought he'd be running the floor with the Charge rather than backing up Garland in Cleveland.
"If you looked at our team going into training camp, we've got every piece we could want," Porter said Sunday night. "Me being on a two-way, I figured I'd be in the G-League, just work my way into it, eventually get a chance.
"That's one of the things they told me … just be ready, you never know when your number's going to be called. I took that to heart, and it's been working for me."
Porter smiled when asked about the flow of the game and how opponents guard him, because he knows when teams come into town they're focused on Garland or Mitchell or Evan Mobley or Jarrett Allen or Max Strus. In a way, he's on the second page of the roster.
"I know when I come into some of these games, I'm probably not on the scouting report, so guys probably don't know how to guard me all the way," Porter said.
He had the game of his life Sunday night against the Denver Nuggets , scoring a career-high 21 points in 25 minutes. He was 7-for-10 from the floor and dished out four assists along the way.
Taking charge: Revere graduate Pete Nance opening next chapter of basketball career with Cleveland Charge
Mitchell made sure to get the game ball for Porter afterward. When asked if he had any plans for where he'd put the ball once he got home, Porter again smiled and said he wasn't sure.
He'll keep it for as long as it's his career high game. The idea is to not have it for too long.
"I mean, no telling, I might get another career-high soon, so I might have to get rid of that thing," he said, laughing.
The Cavs had already featured their fair share of injuries this season. But it also has led to a few success stories. Porter, an unheralded rookie and a five-year college player who never thought the NBA horizon would be so close, is one of them.
Ryan Lewis can be reached at rlewis@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ByRyanLewis .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Cavaliers Craig Porter Jr. scores career-high 21 points
