While the 2018 NBA Draft was expected to be one with many trades and many surprises, Missouri product Michael Porter Jr. seemed locked for a top-10 selection on Thursday night. The first five came, furiously, as the Atlanta Hawks and Dallas Mavericks traded picks, the next five came and Porter's name wasn't called. Even the Charlotte Hornets and L.A. Clippers had already agreed on a deal to swap picks, Porter still in his seat.
A whopping 12 teams passed on Porter before the Denver Nuggets drafted him with the 14th pick, believed to be due to the concern surrounding his injury history, despite his camp providing a medical update to every team that came to his workout, and allowing each team's doctors to examine him.
Formerly a projected top-two pick at this point last year and the top ESPN-ranked talent of his high school class, Porter didn't take going at the top for granted and celebrated his moment once the Nuggets came calling.
“It was all excitement,” Porter told Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated. “All that stress and wondering what city I was going to land in… It wasn’t about the [draft] number. It was about the city I was going to. All of that was overcome by joy. I don’t feel entitled to this.”
Nuggets president Josh Kroenke, also a former Missouri guard back in his day, knows the risk they've taken due to his injury history, but also the rewards.
“Michael is an incredible talent and we were surprised to see him available at number 14,” Kroenkesaid. “We know the risks associated with him due to his recent back injury at Missouri, but he’s an incredibly hard worker, is an outstanding young man and we think he will fit in well with our up-and-coming group in Denver.”
Meanwhile, Porter has an entire season ahead of him, hoping to prove those 12 teams wrong.
“All of this is a blessing. I can’t wait to prove a lot of people wrong,” said Porter.
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