Inside the numbers behind Michael Porter Jr.'s rising All-Star case with Nets: 'That's what All-Stars do'

C.J. Holmes, New York Daily News on Dec 17, 2025

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NEW YORK — With NBA All-Star voting now underway, fans have a chance to help the Nets do something they haven’t done since 2023: send one of their own to the league’s marquee weekend.

Ballots, which are weighted across fan, player and media votes for starters and then handed to coaches to select the reserves, will run daily through Jan. 14. The last time Brooklyn broke through that process was when Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving earned starting spots three seasons ago.

This time, Michael Porter Jr. is the Nets’ clearest path back to that stage. His role has expanded, his presence has grown, and inside the organization there’s a sense that he’s beginning to play with the assertiveness and consistency of someone ready to enter the All-Star conversation.

Here are the numbers behind his surge, and what helps or hurts his All-Star bid.

From role player to elite scorer

Stepping out of the shadow of Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray, Porter’s averaging career highs across nearly every major category in Brooklyn (points, assists, field goals, three-pointers, free throws, usage, touches and assist percentage) while placing himself among the Eastern Conference leaders in scoring and shot creation. He ranks seventh in points per game (25.6), tied for 11th in total points (537) and seventh in field goals made per game (9.1). He already has nine 30-point games, a personal best and tied for the sixth most in the East, and sits third in the conference in made 3s per game (3.6).

The 27-year-old is also converting difficult attempts at an elite rate, leading the entire NBA in made 3s against tight defense (40) and ranking first in the East in field goals made when touching the ball for less than two seconds (5.8). His off-ball scoring is just as strong. Porter ranks first in the East in points per game off dribble handoffs (3.7), first off screens (3.5) and tied for third on cuts (3.8).

Porter’s blend of high volume and elite efficiency has transformed the Nets’ offense.

“I think his movement, the attention he creates, his cutting [has been impressive],” Nets coach Jordi Fernández said. “If you like watching basketball, I’m pretty sure you like watching Michael play.”

Growth beyond scoring

Porter’s rebounding has climbed to 7.3 per game, ranking 22nd in the East, and he’s 25th in total rebounds (154) and 11th in defensive rebounds per game (6.2). His workload has jumped too. He’s now 10th in the conference in usage rate (28.7% among players with at least 10 appearances), a major bump from his previous career high of 22.7%, and his touches per game have climbed to 60.7 from a previous high of 46.0.

“He’s always open, great cutter, coming off [dribble handoffs],” Nic Claxton said. “He also — not just for me but for everybody — he’s really good at instilling confidence in all of his teammates and being a leader out there for us, and I feel like that’s what All-Stars do.”

The question that hangs over everything

The most persistent caveat in Porter’s All-Star case is the winning. His resume speaks for itself. However, the question is whether the Nets’ record will give voters and coaches enough reason to check his name. It’s a familiar problem for players who break out on teams still trying to establish themselves.

Day’Ron Sharpe didn’t dance around it.

“I for sure think he can be an All-Star,” Sharpe said. “I just think we have to win more to get him the vote. I don’t want him to be like one of those guys like Bradley Beal, he was averaging 30 that year but Washington was the worst team in the league.”

Still, Porter’s place in Nets history strengthens his case. His 537 points are the fourth most through 21 games in franchise history, and his 75 made threes are the most ever by a Net in that span. From Dec. 1 to Dec. 12, he recorded four straight games with at least 33 points, tying Durant and James Harden for the longest such streak in team history. And the Nets are 6-3 when he scores 30 or more, a simple indicator of how tightly their chances are tied to his production.

“I mean, just look at what we look like when he’s on the court versus when he’s not on the court,” Claxton said. “He does so much. He creates so many opportunities for himself, for other teammates. His averages are off the charts, so he definitely should be an All-Star.”

Whether the votes follow is out of Porter’s hands. Inside the Nets’ building, the belief is already clear. He’s playing like an All-Star. Over the next month, the league gets to decide if it sees him the same way.