By Jordan Long
Denver Nuggets’ rookie Michael Porter Jr. had a second surgery on his back. Porter hopes that this will be the last setback and wants to be in uniform at the start of the season for the Nuggets. According to ESPN, Porter said, “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. 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.”
Denver knows Porter can play. He didn’t show a lot of skills in college playing in 3 games for the Missouri Tigers because of surgery to repair one of two bulging disks in his back. . Porter showed what he could do on offense with 10 points per game. On defense Porter boxed out for rebounds allowing the Tigers to create fast break opportunities, averaging 5.3 defensive rebounds per game.
Porter wants to be out there for the Denver Nuggets and start his NBA career. The problem is who knows how healthy he is. Denver doesn’t need him to begin the season. They have Mason Plumlee and Paul Milsap who can play the power forward position. These two players are able to box out and block shots on opponents. On offense both of them can score from inside.
Denver could use Porter for seasons to come. On paper, he might be one of the top picks in Nuggets’ history. They drafted him to be a building block to help the Nuggets win an NBA title in the future. Right now he needs to focus on being healthy. He has yet to prove he can last a college season let alone a grueling NBA schedule. Porter is better off healing and watching from the bench to start the year. It is possible he could assist this team for a playoff push and maybe even reach the postseason.
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