Houston Rockets: 3 ways for Kevin Porter Jr. to reach stardom

Houston Rockets’ Kevin Porter path to stardom #3: The floater

The floater has become one of the most important shots in the modern NBA. As a shot, it allows for perimeter players to get off a high percentage shot without having to dramatically alter their body position to circumvent a rim protector and it can double as a lob for an alley-oop.

Most players develop their floater once in the NBA and the reason for that is quite simple. It’s better to get a lay-up than a floater and any player talented enough to make the league will have such a talent advantage at the amateur level that they wouldn’t have much use for it.

Kevin Porter Jr., per NBA stat tracking, has attempted a grand total of 33 shots that are classified as floaters and converted them at a 42.4-percent rate. The first thing that stands out when you watch his floaters is that they don’t consistently look like a floater.

All too often they look like an augmented jump-shot done out of desperation but that is to be expected for a player of his experience level. However, it’s not all doom and gloom and he has, at times, shown touch and poise on his floater.

If Porter wants to grow as a scorer he’ll need to become more consistent with his floater and he should use the offseason to get more comfortable with it. The future is bright but to become a go-to scorer he’ll need to add the floater to his toolbox.

Next: Path to stardom #2