Troubled ex-Rockets Star Kevin Porter Jr. To Make Basketball Return

Kevin Porter Jr. is all set to end his basketball hiatus. Months after entangling himself in a legal battle, the former Houston Rockets star found his way back to the hardwood. In the latest update from NBA insider, Shams Charania, it was revealed that Porter Jr. would join a Greek basketball club soon. Notably, the Rockets had traded him to the OKC Thunder in October last year,  a move decided after the controversies took off. However, the team waived this trade-off immediately.

Additionally, Charania also highlighted that the 23-year-old star signed up for a deal with Greek club PAOK for the rest of the season. After spending four years in the league and averaging 15.3 points, Porter Jr. is now preparing to start a new career with the Greek club.

The troubled star underwent a grave time in the last few months. Kevin Porter Jr. didn’t play a single game of basketball after he was arrested for a domestic assault in September 2023. Months later, the star pleaded guilty and reached a plea deal with the New York City police.

As per the plea deal signed in January 2024, Porter Jr. currently has to undergo a 26-week counseling program and attend all court hearings. Significantly, the plea deal also stated that if the star complied with the requirements, he could withdraw the assault plea within a year, according to reports from AP News. Only three months into the deal, Porter Jr. has now found his way back to the hardwood. But not with the NBA, for the Greek team, PAOK instead.

The POAK is a professional basketball team competing in the Greek Basket League. Currently, the team is in the 9th seed with a 22-8 record. Porter Jr. will join the team for the rest of the season. Several players from the POAK have played in the NBA, but Porter Jr., who recorded a career-high average of 19 points in the last season, might have a dominant season.

Did the Rockets miss Kevin Porter Jr. this season?

The young Rockets roster made a massive turnaround this season with an 11-game winning streak, knocking at the door of the playoffs. Besides Kevin, youngsters like Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, and Amen Thompson also produced impressive stats. If not for this season, the team is definitely a threat in the upcoming seasons.

However, despite having a sharpshooter, an imposing center, and an aggressive defense line-up, the team still lacked an X factor. The 23-year-old shooting guard could have played an important role in giving the team the extra edge they needed.

In his four-season-long career, he produced his career-best average of 19 points in the last season. He may have further improved in the following season. Nevertheless, the Rockets are still in search of the X-factor. Will Kevin Porter Jr. ever return to the NBA? Let us know in the comments below.

Read More – Rockets Part Ways With Kevin Porter Jr as Ex All-Star Who Was Traded for James Harden Returns to Houston