Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. hasn’t given up on the possibility of resuming play for Denver during the team’s first round playoff series against the Warriors, per Marc J. Spears of ESPN.
“Right now, I’m taking it game by game. I’m not ruling anything out,” Porter said after the Nuggets’ first game against Golden State, a 123-101 loss. “This is a thing I don’t ever want to deal with again, so I’m just taking my time. … I’m playing it game by game. Every morning I wake up and I know I’m feeling good. Every day I’m getting closer.”
Porter has acknowledged that overwork caused the setback he suffered while rehabilitating from his December 1 lumbar spine surgery, his third since 2017. He had initially been expected to return to the Nuggets in March.
The 6’10” forward appeared in just nine games for Denver this season, averaging 9.9 PPG and 6.6 RPG, significant declines from the 19.0 PPG and 7.3 RPG he averaged through 61 contests a year ago. Thanks in no small part to that 2020/21 performance, the Nuggets inked Porter to a five-year, $172MM extension during the 2021 offseason.
Porter is Done ….. time to be a backup. Or go to Euro ball. Nobody should depend on damaged goods. This is a PLAYERS league. Gotta to play
he’s 23…
theee lower spine surgeries, though. I respect the dedication to return but that is some significant vulnerability. it’s not like you can wear a brace. you have to relearn how to move and do a lot of work to strengthen and keep the area moving right.
He is only 23 but the implied risk on him today makes him the worst contract in the entire NBA for me. Many will disagree with that and that’s fine but I stand there today taking everything (Joker) under consideration
IF/when Joker signs the sumpermax ext they will be paying Joker MPJr and Aaron “Ghost” Gordon over 100 million in 2024/25
Yikes
I hope Im wrong for Jokers sake
That is some exciting news, finally!
DEN needs him, that’s for sure!