By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
A veteran of 196 appearances in the NBA, Kevin Porter Jr. used overseas options down the stretch of the 2023-24 campaign.
On the free-agent list since October, his next stop is PAOK mateco for the rest of the season, according to NBA insider Shams Charania. Confirming the deal, the team based in Thessaloniki officially welcomed Porter later Monday.
Porter, 23, has been sidelined through the 2023-24 season since being traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder and subsequently placed on waivers. Previously spending three years with the Houston Rockets and his rookie season with the Cleveland Cavaliers followed his selection as the 30th overall pick of the 2019 NBA draft, coming out of the University of Southern California.
Besides being involved in a domestic assault case and accepting a plea deal in January, his career was additionally marked by an altercation with John Lucas and leaving the Toyota Center during a Rockets game. His spell with the Cavaliers included a weapons charge later dropped. At USC, he was suspended for several months due to personal conduct issues.
PAOK participated in the Basketball Champions League and ranked second in Group G of the Regular Season, but missed on progressing to the Round of 16 after being eliminated by Tofas in a best-of-three Play-In series in January. Down the stretch of the season, the team coached by Stathis Nerantzakis hopes to clinch a berth in the Playoffs of Greece’s Stoiximan Basket League through the Playouts of the Regular Season.