Denver Nuggets rookie forward Michael Porter Jr. told ESPN on Monday that he is finally pain-free after having second back surgery and looking to fully recover by the start of the 2018-19 NBA season.
Considered possibly the most talented player in 2018 NBA Draft, Porter Jr. slipped all the way to 14th selection since the teams had concerns over his back problems. Majority of these concerns came over the fact that the 20-year-old only played three games in his freshman season at Missouri due to back problems.
After Nuggets drafted him, the team discussed the possibility of sitting him for a year, but it looks like Michael Porter Jr has other plans.
“I don’t have a date but I’m hoping to be back for the beginning of the year. Gotta heal up, but I feel great,” –said Porter. “I’m able to get on the court a little bit right now, do some different things. But my rehab has definitely been very conservative. They’re really taking it easy with me, being patient with me.“
Michael Porter Jr. came from high school as the top-rated basketball prospect in the nation and was widely considered to be the first overall pick in the 2018 draft. Still, after hurting his back in the first half of his debut for Missouri Tigers, NBA teams began having concerns about his health.
Before the draft, he was still projected to land somewhere between 6th and 8th pick, but teams decided not to gamble on him. Nuggets took the opposite approach, and if Porter Jr. manages to stay healthy, they got themselves a real steal.
