December 16, 2015
Otto Porter enjoying some success during third year with Wizards
"This is what I've dreamed about being here and playing at a high level like this. This is everything I've wanted. Every day you get to go to work and do the thing that you love to do. That's the main thing."
By Chris Pobst - Standard Democrat
sports@standard-democrat.com
MEMPHIS -- Otto Porter hasn't changed much since joining the NBA three years ago.
His 6-8, 198-pound frame may be a bit thicker, but the former Scott County Central star still possess that picture perfect shooting motion and that humble demeanor that thousands of Southeast Missouri basketball fans flocked towards.
And yes, he still keeps up with his old high school team.
Porter played in his 134th NBA game as a member of the Washington Wizards Monday night at the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tenn. The Wizards lost 112-95 to the Memphis Grizzlies in a game where Porter hit a bump during his recent upswing as a full-time starter.
Porter played 26 minutes and shot 1 of 8 from the floor for two points, four assists and three rebounds.
"We came out with not that much energy," Porter said following Monday's loss. "We came out flat. On the defensive end, we didn't communicate and they were getting wide open layups. It just knocked the breath out of us. Just no energy."
Monday's numbers would have been a typical game for the 22-year old during his first two NBA seasons, when injuries and adjusting to a faster league hindered his start, but Porter has looked to have found his niche with the Wizards of late despite his backslide in Memphis.
Through his last 10 games, Porter has averaged 12.5 points and 6.9 rebounds. He had a career night just 48 hours prior to Monday's tipoff gouging the Dallas Mavericks for 28 points on 11 of 18 shooting. He did most of his damage in the third quarter where he scored 17 points on 7 of 8 shooting helping his team to a 21-point lead and a 114-111 win.
It was a welcomed effort from Porter, who's fallen under the umbrella of players who's been tasked with filling the void left by Bradley Beal. The fellow Missourian, who graduated in 2011 from Chaminade High School in St. Louis, is expected to miss the next two weeks with a stress reaction to his right fibula.
"With the injury situation that we have and being limited, having Otto do what he did (against Dallas) that's what it is. Opportunities. Different guys stepping up to help the cause," Washington head coach Randy Wittman said before Monday's game in Memphis.
Wittman was pleased with Otto's recent surge after watching his young forward excel when the chance arose.
"Just being aggressive and taking what's given to him," Wittman said. "The opportunities are there and you have to take advantage of it. Spacing the floor, making some three's, those things are big for us. Especially, like I said, with us being limited. Those opportunities are going to be there and he took advantage of them in Dallas."
Finding ways to furnish his team with valuable minutes has been one of Porter's biggest challenges since joining the Wizards as their No. 3 pick in the 2013 NBA Draft.
"Finding a way to contribute, whether that's scoring, rebounding or defending, getting steals," Porter said. "Getting in the flow of the game and trying to get to the open spot, get some steals and rebound and hopefully get going."
He's done that so far through 23 games this season. Porter is nearly doubling his career points, rebounds, assists, steals and minutes numbers. He's tied with Marcin Gortat for third on the team with 12.2 points a night and is the second-leading rebounder at 5.5 a game.
"This is what I've dreamed about being here and playing at a high level like this," Porter said, reflecting on his last three years. "This is everything I've wanted. Every day you get to go to work and do the thing that you love to do. That's the main thing."
Porter said there's been plenty of 'welcome to the NBA' moments, but the biggest to him was his first game.
"Probably my first game my rookie year coming from my injury and just being in the game," he said. "Going up and down the floor the first time."
Playing against one of his idols was also an eye opener.
"Kevin Durant was one of those guys that it was like, 'Okay, I'm actually in the NBA.'"
Porter made his NBA debut Dec. 6, 2013, after battling a hip flexor injury that derailed most of his rookie season playing in just 37 games. He played in 74 games his second year, which included an average of 33.7 minutes and 10.3 points during the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Atlanta Hawks.
He said he's received tons of advice from all-stars and MVPs -- most recently Kobe Bryant -- but Porter said that Jeff Green is one player that sticks out the most.
Green, who is in his second season with the Memphis Grizzlies, is a seven-year veteran who shares the same college choice as Porter. Green played for Georgetown University from 2004-07 and was the fifth pick for the Boston Celtics in the 2007 draft. Porter played for the Hoyas from 2011-13, won the Big East Player of the Year in 2013 and was a first-team All-American that same year.
"He always gives me words of advice on certain situations," he said about Green.
Surrounded by the chaos of playing for a NBA team, Porter still makes time to follow Scott County Central basketball. Of course, he has good reason to nowadays.
Porter's younger brother, Jeffery, is a senior for the Braves. The two have contributed five state basketball championships to the school that has the most in Missouri history.
Otto Porter helped Scott Central to three-straight from 2009-11, while Jeffery has helped fuel the past two and will be searching for the school's 19th title starting in February.
The school's only player to make it to the NBA will be watching closely.
"I had a little conversation with my bro," Otto Porter said. "I told him to get the job done. It's his senior year, that's all I can say. He knows the rest."
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