There is no doubt that Michael Porter Jr. still has a lot of ways he can improve his game.
But, after finishing his second season in the league, he has emerged as an exceptional young talent and a potential future star for the Denver Nuggets.
In a recent chat on “The Old Man & The Three” podcast, Porter Jr. talked about his journey into the NBA, and how things might be different had he been picked up by the L.A. Clippers in 2018, who passed on him twice in that Draft.
“The day before, Mark was like, ‘Michael, I want you to talk to the Nuggets just so you have a floor that you won’t fall past,’” Porter said. “So the Nuggets ended up saying, ‘We don’t think he’ll be there, but if he’s there, we’ll take him.’ The first time I talked to [Nuggets executive] Tim Connelly was, like, the day of the draft and I didn’t really even think of the Nuggets as a possibility. And then, I got drafted [by Denver].
With the Clippers, to be honest with you, it might have a good thing because who knows [what would’ve happened in Los Angeles]? You know how crazy L.A. is,” Porter said. “Living in L.A. as a rookie who’s strictly doing rehab without even playing? I might’ve got into some stuff. So, I’m where I’m supposed to be.”
Porter Jr. harbors absolutely no ill-will towards any of the teams that passed on him.
“I understood it, and I don’t have any bitterness toward any team because I was low-key scared myself,” Porter admitted. “Like, I didn’t know if I was going to bounce back the way I wanted to either. It’s been a slow process, and I still feel like I’m getting there.”
Considering everything, it’s hard to say that Porter isn’t in the perfect situation for him. He gets to play in Denver, alongside Nikola Jokic, with the chance to play far into the postseason.
Last season, he averaged 19 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game on 54.2% shooting.
