Twelve teams passed on rookie Michael Porter Jr. before the Denver Nuggets capitalized on a back-to-back snub from the LA Clippers — owners of the 12th and 13th picks in the 2018 NBA Draft — to take a chance on the talented prospect who suffered a tough back injury minutes into his college debut at Missouri.
Porter was formerly destined to become a top-two selection in this year's draft, but the rise of Deandre Ayton and an unforeseen setback turned that prediction from being written into stone to a mere liquid aspiration.
“It’s hard when everything comes easy to you and then something happens to you,” Porter said back on June 22, when he was initially introduced by the Nuggets, far from the spot he had initially envisioned, according to Nick Kosminder of The Athletic. “You kind of have to take a different approach and take it slowly. It’s just a little bit of a different route to get to the destination.”
Nuggets president Tim Connelly took a shot on drafting the 6-foot-10 dynamic forward after intense looks from his medical staff, drawing every report possible to assure it was a selection worth making.
Weeks before the NBA Draft, Porter had been forced to cancel a workout, only to reschedule it for days later. But that didn't stop Porter from being surprised at just how far he slid down the draft board.
“I think he was surprised, disappointed, and now I think the chip on his shoulder is going to be pretty big,” Connelly said on draft night. “He didn’t expect to be there at 14, so I think it’s an additional motivating factor for a guy who is already motivated.”
There is no guarantee that Porter will start the season healthy, as he recently underwent another back surgery. The Nuggets are bound to be very careful with him, likely bringing him along slowly in limited minutes, but it won't be long before the Missouri native looks to prove those who passed on him wrong.
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