The Kevin Porter Jr. File
Team: Houston Rockets
Height: 6-4
Weight: 203
Age: 22
Birthday: 5/4/2000
College: USC
Draft: 30th overall pick, 2019 NBA Draft
Contract: Signed a 4-year, $63.44 million contract in 2022
From Trouble to Triumph
The path to remaining in the NBA wasn't always easy for Kevin Porter Jr. Originally drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers, KPJ found himself on thin ice in northeast Ohio. There was a referee related incident, an arrest for a weapons charge which was eventually dropped, and a food-throwing tantrum, just to name a few. The Cavs had no choice but to move on, shipping the embattled Porter Jr. off to Houston, in exchange for essentially a thank you card.
Upon arriving in Houston with the Rockets, Porter Jr. began to find himself, both on and off the court. KPJ told Matt Young of the Houston Chronicle, "This organization saved my life, potentially. I just love being here and want to be here for a while. I needed a new scenery and they picked me up when I was down."
KPJ's new lease on life landed him a contract extension that was previously unthinkable for a player that appeared destined to fall out of the league relatively fast. He has progressed every year, securing a spot in the rebuilding Rockets' starting lineup, cementing himself as a building block for a franchise seeking a return to relevancy in the post-James Harden era.