Michael Porter Jr. still has a deep love for basketball, even after enduring three tough back surgeries. The Brooklyn Nets forward wants to keep playing the game he adores, but he’s realistic—his body and mind will decide how long that lasts.
“I want to play as long as I can,” Porter told reporters during Nets training camp. “Basketball is my passion. This year, I’ll give it everything I’ve got and then reevaluate at the end where I’m at mentally and physically.”
Porter’s recent track record shows his resilience. Two years ago with the Denver Nuggets, he started all 81 games. Last season, he tied for the team lead with 77 starts, proving he’s become an NBA iron man despite early injury struggles.
Those struggles were no joke. Porter dealt with herniated disks and underwent his third back surgery in December 2021. The procedures left him with peroneal nerve damage, forcing him to wear a brace for “foot drop.” To finally break through, he turned to unconventional help beyond just physical rehab.
“A lot of it comes down to hard work on my body, but also on my mind, emotions, and spirit,” Porter explained. He credited Nicole Sachs, a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist featured in her book “Mind Your Body.” “I didn’t realize how much stemmed from stress and the mental side. Once I addressed that with a full approach to rehab, I’ve stayed healthy.”
Porter admits few NBA players go this route, but then again, few face his level of back pain and recovery challenges. “After the third surgery, I needed something new. Her work has been a game-changer,” he said.
Nets coach Jordi Fernández, who coached Porter for four years as an assistant in Denver, knows the toll firsthand. “People underestimate how mentally tough Mike is after serious injuries,” Fernández said. “What he’s accomplished is impressive. I give him a ton of credit.”
Now in Brooklyn, Porter steps into a bigger role as the team’s go-to scorer. Fernández wants him to attack aggressively—shooting jumpers, cutting to the basket, and grabbing rebounds—without handling the ball too much.
“I’m excited to see him in this different spot,” the coach added. That includes more time in the mid-post, an area once dominated by Nikola Jokic and Aaron Gordon in Denver.
Porter’s already embracing it. “I’m getting comfortable in the mid-post, facing up and shooting over defenders or driving downhill,” he said. “I can rack up 6 to 8 points easily there. It’s a spot I love, especially late in games when things slow down. The role feels different, but we’re still figuring out what works best.”
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