Invited by his former teammate Austin Rivers on the podcast of “The Ringer”, Michael Porter Jr looked back on his 2018 draft and his difficult start to the NBA. While he was among the best players in the country, MVP of the McDonald's All-American Game in 2017, co-leading scorer at the Hoop Summit the same year, the Nuggets shooter saw his stock plummet before joining the NBA, due to a serious back injury that kept him from playing for nearly two years.
Initially projected in the top 10 of his Draft, MPJ was finally chosen in 14th position in 2018 by the Nuggets. He already saw himself with the Clippers, who had the 12th and 13th picks.
Steve Ballmer had a crush on him
Ultimately, it didn't happen, and the winger had kept a certain resentment towards Steve Ballmer's franchise. Upon arrival, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, chosen in 12th position, quickly packed up and left. The Clippers' 13th choice then went to Jerome Robinson, a new recruit… from Saint-Quentin this season.
“It was their doctors who wrote on my evaluation report. They said I might never play again, and I think that's why they didn't take me. Steve Ballmer being from Seattle, he had seen me play under Brandon Roy (in high school), and he really wanted me at the 12th or 13th pick,” he confided. “Ultimately they took Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jerome Robinson. Ultimately the Nuggets took me 14th overall, and to be honest, when you look back today….”
Fate has indeed turned in his favor as Austin Rivers reminded him, since MPJ is today an NBA champion, with the biggest contract possible. “It was a bad decision, and it’s been a bad decision for a lot of teams. When you look at where you are today as a player, an NBA champion, the level of shooter that you are… Imagine if the Clippers had kept Shai, you and all the young players that they had, it’s just crazy. It’s always very hard to make predictions. But I always say the same thing, the guy was a top player a year before, it’s probably worth seeing if he can get back to that level.”
A champion's destiny
Today, Michael Porter Jr. looks back on this stroke of luck differently, and no longer harbors any resentment toward the franchises that passed him over in the Draft. There was also the case of Ben Simmons, who has suffered from a nerve problem in his back for years. A mishap that helped the Nuggets shooter realize how lucky he already was to be able to play again.
“I don't blame the doctors, I don't blame the teams. Even when I look back, for me, it's a chance. Who knows if I would have been champion?”added Michael Porter Jr..
And Austin Rivers agrees: “You ended up in the right place (…). You could have been a 4th or 5th pick in the draft and ended up in a horrible situation. Here you end up playing with Nikola Jokic, the greatest player of our time, who is a great passer for you the shooter. You have Aaron Gordon, who is a perfect complement to you, Jamal Murray… You have a great starting five that complement each other well. And of course, you already have a ring.”
How to read the stats? GM = Games Played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots Made / Shots Attempted; 3pts = 3-pointers / 3-pointers Attempted; LF = Free Throws Made / Free Throws Attempted; Off = Offensive Rebound; Def = Defensive Rebound; Tot = Total Rebounds; Pd = Assists; Fte: Personal Fouls; Int = Steals; Bp = Loose Balls; Ct: Blocks; Pts = Points.
