When Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. left Seattle’s Nathan Hale High School, ESPN ranked him as the second-best prospect in the country. At 6-foot-10, his combination of physical traits and a pure shooting stroke was unique. Furthermore, he averaged 36.2 points and 13.6 rebounds per game as a high school senior.
Fast forward to today and Porter’s still widely regarded as one of the league’s better players. However, since he injured his back in Missouri’s season-opener, his career has taken a dramatic turn. First, Porter almost fell out of the NBA lottery. After being drafted, missed all of what would’ve been his rookie season after undergoing a second back surgery. He then had to overcome physical, emotional, and psychological obstacles in his effort to get his career back on track.
It’s a testament to his mental toughness and passion for the game that he’s now a key starter for a championship contender. However, he knows that he still hasn’t realized the potential he displayed when he was in high school. His closest confidants would agree.
Trae Young was there when Michael Porter Jr.’s back injury changed his career.
Special talent before it, and STILL a special talent now. Salute MPJ
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— Podcast P with Paul George (@PodcastPShow) August 15, 2024
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Indeed, appearing on Podcast P with Paul George, Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young says Porter “would’ve been another PG” without the injuries.
Nuggets’ Michael Porter Jr. Compared To Paul George
“I was at the practice [when] he hurt his back,” Young reveals.
“I was with him a week ago and we still talk about that. Like, the difference in his game – he would’ve been another (Paul George). Like, he’s so offensively skilled and he’s just so smooth with his game. And he was as a really good defender in high school, but he could have been an even better defender at this level.
If his back wasn’t so stiff and he (hadn’t) had these screws and things messed up in his back, like, it’s just unfortunate. He would’ve been a really, really high-level player. Thankfully, he’s still made a good career, so far.”
A Fair Comparison
As Young notes, Porter isn’t just a deadeye shooter.
He’s smooth with the ball in his hands, particularly for a player with his size. As he continues to gain distance from his surgeries, he’s been even more fluid off-the-dribble. It’s also aided him defensively, as he’s no longer standing as upright when guarding on-ball.
Whether Porter would’ve been another George is an interesting hypothetical. However, Paul George’s key strengths are scoring off-the-dribble, 3-point shooting, rebounding, and perimeter defense. Even when he wasn’t healthy, Porter was one of the best jump shooters and rebounders. So, with the strides he’s made while healthy, it seems like a fair comparison.
All of that being said, Porter has averaged 17.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game in his last three healthy seasons. That’s without him being allowed to have more of an offensive role, rather than able to, as Nuggets head coach Michael Malone has leaned rather heavily into the Nikola Jokic–Jamal Murray two-man game. In an expanded role, Porter may eclipse the 20-points-per-game threshold for the first time in his career.
Statistically, this will put him that much closer to George, who has averaged 23.0 points per game over the past five seasons.
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