Before he was drafted, Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. was an enticing prospect. He was the top-ranked player from his high school class before he joined Missouri in college. Unfortunately for Porter, that was when his back injuries started.
Despite his status as the best prospect ahead of the 2018 NBA Draft, teams were wary of a young player having back issues. Before that happened, he was nearly a consensus #1 overall pick, but he massively dropped in the Draft, falling to the Denver Nuggets at the 14th overall pick.
Porter believed he could have been a superstar
Ever since he entered the basketball spotlight, Porter has been a phenomenal player. He was an unstoppable force in high school, having been coached by former NBA All-Star Brandon Roy.
As he progressed, Porter kept enticing NBA scouts because he was a tall forward who could generate offense for himself. He was one of the best examples of a player inspired by Kevin Durant. Many people predicted he would be the best of his class, and even Porter believed that.
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Unfortunately for Porter, his constant back injuries set him back. He was not the quick and athletic player he once was. Porter was still physically gifted with good speed and jumping power, but he was not the most elite athlete anymore.
That is why he re-invented himself in the NBA, as he became one of the deadliest three-point shooters in the game. Considering he was on the Nuggets, he became one of their most reliable shooters who received passes from Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.
"I didn't really know much about my injuries. My expectation was to be the best player in the NBA, and injuries had their way with me. What I'm doing now is not a shock to me. I think that doing it in the way that I'm doing it post injury, I think that's a little bit more what I'm proud of," Porter said about how he felt after entering the league.
During his stint with the Nuggets, Porter was playing the optimal role. However, he did have some limitations, especially on the defensive end. Now that he is with the Nets, he feels much healthier and freer. That is why he is playing the best basketball of his career.
Porter is averaging 25.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. He has become one of the NBA's most enticing players in potential trades. It is a great development, considering he still has some injury red flags.
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