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Houston Rockets guard Kevin Porter, Jr. believes the team "potentially" saved his life after acquiring him in January, according to a report by the Houston Chronicle.
Porter was traded to the Rockets earlier this year from the Cleveland Cavaliers following his arrest in November and an argument with the Cavalier's general manager Koby Altman.
"This organization saved my life, potentially," Porter told the Chronicle. "I just love being here and I want to be here for a while. I needed a new scenery and they picked me up when I was down."
Porter, who suffered from severe depression during his time with the Cavaliers, was unable to use basketball as a method of escape while in Cleveland, making the game unenjoyable, according to a report by The Dream Shake.
Following his relocation to Houston, Porter received guidance from three prominent individuals, including Rockets head coach Stephen Silas, Rockets player development coach John Lucas and Rio Grande Valley Vipers coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah.
"They gave me love and confidence in myself, and motivation to become a better player and person," Porter Jr., said. "They’ve invested a lot in me, and I try to give them my all to repay them in some way.”
Porter's game improved significantly in Houston. He averaged 16.6 points and 6.3 assists per game in 26 games with the Rockets, with his finest performance resulting in a 50-point frenzy against the eventual NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks.
"I changed my everyday life mechanics. Knowing my worth and value, all of that came with being here. I did not know my worth or value where I was before. This move helped me a lot, and I am going to continue growing," he said.
This next season will be Porter's third season in the NBA, and his second with the Rockets.