, as the Nuggets lost to the Thunder 93-125 in the seventh game of the Western Conference semifinals and failed to advance to the Western Conference Finals, the playoff performance of the team's core forward Michael Porter Jr. once again became the focus of outside discussion. It is worth mentioning that Porter insisted on playing with a shoulder injury this time, but his overall performance was not satisfactory.

According to Evan Sidery, NBA reporter for Forbes Sports, Porter's playoff statistics this season were posted on social media: Porter averaged 9.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 0.6 assists and 0.9 turnovers per game, with a shooting percentage of only 39.2% , a three-point shooting percentage of 34.3% , and a true shooting percentage of 50.7% . These statistics are obviously difficult to meet expectations for a player with a maximum salary contract.

Porter's contract situation is also attracting attention. His designated rookie clause early renewal contract is at the top salary level, with a total value of $ 179 million over five years . As of now, Porter has two years left on his contract, with a total contract value of approximately $ 79.1 million. The contrast between such a high salary and playoff performance has caused widespread discussion about Porter's future.

As an important scorer on both the inside and outside lines and a key member on the defensive end of the Nuggets, Porter performed well in the regular season, but his sluggish performance in the playoffs affected the team's overall combat effectiveness. Especially in the crucial seventh game, Porter failed to show stable scoring ability and effective on-court influence, which also became one of the important reasons for the Nuggets' defeat.

The shoulder injury undoubtedly had a certain impact on Porter's performance, but overall, Porter's shooting touch and offensive efficiency are still at a low level. Fans and analysts generally believe that as a top-paid player, Porter needs to make adjustments and improvements in technology and psychology to truly match the value of his contract and help the team go further in the future playoffs.

With two years left on his contract, how Porter adjusts his form and stays healthy in the coming period will become the focus of the Nuggets management and fans. After all, in the highly competitive environment of the NBA , sustained high-level performance and excellent physical condition are the basic qualities that a top-paid player should possess.

Overall, Porter's performance has not yet met the expectations of the outside world, which has added a lot of pressure on his future career. Whether the Nuggets can continue to rely on this expensive forward will largely depend on whether he can overcome injuries and improve his competitive state. In the next two seasons, Porter's performance will undoubtedly attract much attention and will also affect the team's competitive landscape in the Western Conference.