Mike McGraw: Porter Jr.: “They had me the No. 1 player in high school, but I didn’t even feel like I was 100 percent, and I do now. So I’m just excited to show everybody the player I am and that I’m still the best player.”
More on Michael Porter Injury
Mike McGraw: Porter Jr. on back: “I feel better than ever, actually. That injury happened a couple years ago and it had just gotten worse. So I feel pain free and I feel better than I've felt in a long time." #NBACombine
The camp who felt Porter helped himself brought up an interesting perspective. One veteran executive pointed out that the grit to play hurt means more than his milquetoast performances. Being willing to play when you aren’t 100 percent is a big part of NBA life, the executive reasoned. Another scout added that simply playing in the games will be important for a general manager in convincing an owner to take a player that they’ve likely tanked their season to draft. “Obviously the medical records will be key, but the fact that he simply showed he can play, and it’s unlikely that he has a debilitating back injury is very important,” the scout said.
Jeff Goodman: Source confirmed that Missouri freshman Michael Porter Jr., has been cleared for full contact. Source also told ESPN: "Not sure if he will play this season."
Jon Rothstein: Missouri freshman Michael Porter Jr. has been fully cleared for all basketball activities, per a source.
Missouri freshman Michael Porter Jr., a projected NBA draft lottery pick who has played just two minutes this season because of November back surgery, remains hopeful of playing again in 2017-18 for the Tigers. "There's a good chance," Porter told reporters Friday afternoon. "I think doctors are going to be amazed at my progress. "I'm feeling better every day. I'm hoping the doctor feels the same way."
Six-foot-10 Michael Porter Jr was considered by many NBA executives as a candidate to be the No. 1 pick in June's draft thanks to his combination of size, length and skill. However, many NBA executives told ESPN they are concerned about a lingering back injury, which necessitated surgery in November. "It depends on the medical reports," one general manager told ESPN. Porter said he doesn't have any concerns about coming back and risking further injury, but multiple NBA executives have told ESPN it's not something they would advise because he is still likely a top-10 draft pick even if he doesn't play another college game.
Adam Zagoria: I'm told by a source close to the situation that reports that Michael Porter Jr. could return in 4 weeks for Mizzou are inaccurate. No timetable on a return, but he is going through the rehab process. pic.twitter.com/R8vh43hZWr
I asked a dozen personnel people how concerned they were with Porter, Jr.’s surgery and if it will impact where he’s picked. The responses were mixed. “If it’s a standard microdiscectomy, it shouldn’t be much of an issue (lots of those procedures on NBA players),” one general manager said Sunday via text. “If it’s more than that, the result could be of greater impact. If he can do a few draft workouts, he should be just fine. It may play out like the (Joel) Embiid draft where Joel was affected by a couple picks (because of the foot), but not much beyond that.”
But another executive had a different view. “No doubt it hurts him,” the exec said. “Obviously the medical evaluation will be more important and often times as we know, the agents with players at this level withhold information from most of the teams so it will be an interesting decision as to how they handle. Backs are like knees and serious foot/ankle injuries. Tough ones.”
Gary Washburn: Kyrie Irving offers his take on the Michael Porter situation and some advice: "It's tough for any young kid to go through that, especially if they haven't been through any real injury in his life.... I'm pretty sure NBA scouts have enough on him--or have seen enough of him--to know whether he's gonna be in the top 3 or 2 [of the draft].... He's a 3/4-man who's able to handle, crazy athletic and can shoot from the outside. He's a talent."
