As perhaps the most intriguing member of a loaded 2018 NBA Draft class, Michael Porter Jr. comes with more than his fair share of risks. The qualms around Porter Jr. that resulted in his dropping all the way to the end of the lottery where he was selected with the 14th pick by the Denver Nuggets revolve around his problematic back ailment.
Porter Jr., who has already undergone an operation on his back, is expected by many to play sparsely this season for Denver if at all. However, the rookie underwent another back surgery and according to NBA.com’s Steve Aschburner, the Nuggets don’t plan to have him sit out the upcoming season.
F Michael Porter Jr., who slid to Denver at No. 14 in NBA Draft due to ongoing back issues, had another surgery last week. His camp believes latest procedure = breakthrough grasp of his herniated-disks problem. Not their plan to have him sit out 2018-19 season.
— Steve Aschburner (@AschNBA) July 18, 2018
The Denver Nuggets confirmed the rookie’s surgery in a recent press release.
Michael Porter Jr. has undergone surgery of the lumbar spine at The Carrell Clinic in Dallas, Tex. The Procedure was performed by Dr. Andrew Dossett. There is no timetable for his return to basketball participation.
Viewed as one of the most talented players in this latest NBA Draft, Michael Porter Jr. could end up being a steal if he is able to remain healthy. Though a surgery typically isn’t a good thing, this latest operation may be the one that pays the most dividends for Porter Jr. and the Nuggets.
After a solid offseason, the Nuggets are expected to be in the thick of the Western Conference playoff hunt and would love to have their star rookie out there for at least the latter parts of the campaign.
