Will Nuggets Gunslinger Be Able To Reach Potential?

Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr.

s jumper universally recognized as an elite.

In fact, hes tied for third in franchise history in career three-point percentage (.410).

He ranks fifth in franchise history in made threes (697) despite playing just 286 games.

3+ minutes of MPJ buckets.

I always feel like every clean look he gets is going in.

pic.twitter.com/PwgtoQrcyD Adam Mares (@Adam_Mares) November 25, 2024 However, hes slowly become more than a shooter offensively, growing increasingly comfortable with scoring off the dribble.

To that point, Porter recorded over 200 drives for the first time in his career last season.

This season, hes already racked up 65 drives , putting him on pace to finish with 296.

Porter was already making strides as a defender.

Hes become more of a playmaker as of late as well.

However, there werent many who saw him becoming more than a three-point specialist with regard to his scoring ability.

So there are now even more questions about what his ceiling is.

Will Nuggets Gunslinger Michael Porter Jr.

Be Able To Reach Potential? In an engaging interview with Bennett Durando of The Denver Post, Porter discussed his drive to be great and whether he can reach his potential after three back surgeries.

The same drive that propelled me before injuries to be the best in the world is the same drive that now enables me to even be on the court post-surgeries, Porter says.

I dont know if my ceiling is quite as high after the injuries and everything, but I think that I have the drive.

Like, a one-of-one drive.

Its what propelled me to be the No.

1 (recruit) in the world at one point.

...

If I didnt have that drive, I would not be playing most of the games.

I would not probably be playing in the NBA.

Health Is Wealth Prior to the back injury he sustained while at Missouri, Porter was a true wing.

What if MPJ didnt have 3 back surgeries?! pic.twitter.com/Z5FazRDtbv https://t.co/jHC0jjmuft SportShorts (@den_shorts) March 7, 2024 He still ate above the rim, crashing the boards and catching lobs.

However, he had more wiggle off-the-dribble than he does these days.

In fact, Porters gait has often been described as stiff and upright.

After multiple back surgeries, thats to be expected.

Nonetheless, the Seattle native works on hip mobility and core stability.

Hes also been healed of chronic back pain , per USA TODAY reporter Josh Peter.

To Porter, the issue with his mobility is the brace hes been wearing since he came into the league.

Porter wears the drop foot brace every game and has for the last several years.

On the left is from a game in November.

On the right is a similar brace to the one he wears.

https://t.co/xhGoVLYKEo pic.twitter.com/yKPxdTI8p4 Harrison Wind (@HarrisonWind) January 15, 2024 Im trying to figure out my brace situation because Im pretty stuck in certain regards with the brace that I wear, he tells former The Denver Post reporter Mike Singer.

I feel like if I can get a different brace that lets me move my foot a little more, Ill be able to move in more directions, be a little bit more creative instead of so like, shoot or straight line drive.

Thats what Im missing now compared to high school is I could move in so many different ways and create something out of nothing.

In a separate story with Singer, it was revealed that Porter wears the brace because of a complication from his back surgeries.

He developed a condition called drop foot , which makes it difficult to lift the front part of ones foot, causing it to drag.

If Porter wants to reach his potential, his health is still his biggest obstacle.

However, theres a chance his drop foot condition eventually improves, especially as his back issues have.

If it doesnt, hell have to wait for a cutting-edge advancement in orthotics.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission..

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