Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone shared a beautiful moment with forward Michael Porter Jr. after their title-clinching Game 5 win against the Miami Heat.
The 51-year-old mentor told the forward that he was a huge help in bringing Denver its maiden championship, despite his struggles from the field during the championship round.
Malone urged Porter Jr. to zoom out and look at the season as a whole, where his contributions on both ends of the floor were certainly a factor in why the Nuggets are on top of the NBA mountain right now.
"We won the championship and you were a huge part of that, and we're gonna win another one. And you sacrificed a ton, man, and I appreciate that," Malone added.
Porter Jr. has been thriving as a role player for the Nuggets after being ranked as one of the world's best high school basketball players in 2017.
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Michael Porter Jr. Struggled Shooting in the Finals
The 24-year-old has one of the prettiest jumpers in the game, but unfortunately, the shots weren't falling enough in the championship round.
"My jumper was broke all series," Porter said in the press conference after Game 5.
Porter Jr. shot 4-of-28 from three-point range throughout the five-game series, averaging 9.6 points in 32.8% shooting.
Despite his struggles, Porter Jr. played his highest-scoring game of the series in Game 5, dropping 16 points alongside 13 rebounds, tied for his most ever in the postseason. He did the same feat in Game 1 of the series.
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