Washington Wizards’ Otto Porter Dodges Bullet With Hip Injury

Washington Wizards small-forward Otto Porter dealt with hip injuries early in his career and appears to have dodged a bullet with a recent scare.

Before he even had an opportunity to showcase his versatile skill-set, Otto Porter was labeled a “bust” by some.

Porter had dealt with a series of injuries during his rookie season, including a hip flexor injury, that sidelined him for the beginning of his career, making it that much more difficult for the first-year player to adjust to the pro game.

As he chilled on the Washington Wizards‘ bench, learning behind the likes of Trevor Ariza and Martell Webster, Porter began to soak up the nuances of the game.

Once he finally got a chance to play – his breakthrough occurred in the 2015 NBA Playoffs alongside Paul Pierce – Porter displayed the tools that made him a third overall pick.

This season, Porter has put it all together – the little things he learned while sitting on the bench and his innate skill-set.

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He’s averaged a career-high 14 points with 6.5 rebounds per game.

Porter is making nearly 54 percent of his total shots, 43 percent of his threes and over 80 percent of his free throws.

Since he’s shooting just under 11 times per game, Porter has blossomed into one of the league’s most efficient low-usage players.

Given the team’s need for scoring – the Washington Wizards’ bench is last in points and field goal percentage – Porter’s production is virtually irreplaceable.

Washington hoped that Kelly Oubre would develop into a capable backup small-forward, but the sophomore still goes through rookie-like slumps.

Oubre played less than 700 minutes under Randy Wittman last season, hindering his development.

If Porter were to miss time, the Wizards wouldn’t have a way to fill his role.

Health, to put it bluntly, will be Washington’s primary concern going forward.

On Saturday night against the Philadelphia 76ers, Porter injured his hip, reminding some of the exact reason he didn’t produce early in his career.

Washington won in blowout fashion, but Porter’s health is more important than just a single win in the books.

After the contest, Porter seemed to reassure reporters that he would be okay going forward.

"“I feel good,” he said.When asked if he would be good to go vs. Portland, he responded: “For sure.”Porter, 23, described leaving Saturday’s win as merely a precaution.“I want to make sure I stay on top of it and make sure it doesn’t get out of hand,” he said."

Washington will take on the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday afternoon, looking for their 12th consecutive victory inside the Verizon Center.

Much like the Wizards, the Blazers are dependent on their backcourt – Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum – for most of their scoring. Assuming the guards cancel each other out, Porter and Co. will be the difference.

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Luckily for Washington, it looks like Porter won’t be missing any action due to the hip injury.