Early Monday morning, less than 24 hours after the Denver Nuggets season ended in heartbreaking fashion, the 14th overall pick of the 2018 draft, Michael Porter Jr., was made available to the media during exit interviews. He spoke on what he learned watching from the sidelines this season, how he’ll spend his offseason, and confirmed that he’s expecting to play at Summer League.
It was a surprise appearance—the Nuggets top draft pick never played this season, and the media had few chances to speak with him throughout the year. But the young wing was upbeat and transparent.
“I am expecting to play in Summer League,” Porter Jr. responded when asked just that. “And I am excited for it.”
Porter Jr. was hoping to make a full recovery from a back injury and subsequent surgery that derailed his career at Missouri, but he never suited up for the Nuggets in his rookie season. He was asked at what point he came to terms with the possibility of not playing:
“To be honest, going into the season, I did not expect myself to be able to play at 100%. But the way I feel now is leaps and bounds beyond where I thought I’d be at this point, honestly. I feel so good, and I work so hard every day with these guys. I feel like a better player than I’ve ever been.”
“I’ll probably go home for a few days and just relax,” Porter Jr. said when asked how he’ll handle the offseason. “But this is a new season for me. I’m ready to play. Just a few days and then I’m back to working out.”
Watch MPJ’s comments:
