Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. has undoubtedly faced his fair share of challenges on the road to becoming an NBA champion.
Overcoming three major back surgeries and numerous doubts about his future in the league, Porter’s remarkable journey has been nothing short of inspiring. His agent, Mark Bartelstein, recently shared his admiration for Porter’s resilience and determination on SiriusXM NBA Radio.
“I’m just so happy for the guy,” Bartelstein said. “I don’t know if people fully understand what Michael is going through to get back to this level. They have three major back surgeries. There’s a lot of people who counted him out before he even got to the NBA. And there’s a lot of teams that refused to draft him on draft night. And then they have two more surgeries after that. And there were a lot of very, very dark days for Michael where he’s questioning if he could get back to the level he wanted to.”
Despite the challenges, Porter returned to action during the 2022-23 season and played an instrumental role in the Nuggets’ success. Averaging 17.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in 61 regular-season games, he showcased his value on both ends of the court. During the playoffs, Porter’s contributions were crucial to Denver’s first NBA championship victory, where they defeated the Miami Heat 4-1 in the Finals.
Bartelstein praised Porter’s versatility and gravitational force on the court, stating that even when his shots weren’t falling, he made significant impacts through rebounding and defense. The agent expressed his joy for his client’s success and highlighted that Porter is still recovering and getting stronger from his surgeries, with tremendous upside ahead.
“The number one word when I think about Michael is just resiliency,” he said. “Even if he didn’t make some shots, that’s the last thing in my mind in terms of being concerned. He did a lot of things out there. He rebounded the ball, he defended. Trust me if talk to [Erik] Spo[elstra] – and Denver’s obviously got great players and they got two-time MVP [Nikola Jokic] – but Michael is on the top of that scouting report. They were not going to leave him for a second. Even if he’s not making shot, he’s so much gravitational force, he’s taking people away and crating space for everybody.”
Michael Porter Jr.’s incredible journey serves as a testament to his unwavering dedication to the game and his determination to overcome obstacles, solidifying his place as a rising star in the NBA.
