Author: Monojit Mandal
Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. has found peace in writing a diary, especially in the early hours of the morning. Porter feels that having a pen and paper in front of him has a tremendous effect on his mind and body.
Porter uses his notebook to reflect and give thanks. “I try to write a gratitude journal and just reflect during this journey on all the things we have to be grateful for, but at the same time stay hungry, keep working and never give up,” he explained. Porter expresses his gratitude and maintains his motivation for achievement through this daily routine.
In fact, Porter has many reasons to be thankful. He is an important part of the success of the Denver Nuggets, who face the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals. In the first game, he scored 14 points, 13 rebounds and two blocks, which contributed to the Nuggets’ 104-93 victory. Porter has been a consistent performer in the playoffs, averaging 14.6 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, while shooting 44.3% from the field and 38.6% from beyond the arc.
Despite his remarkable achievements, the player is an underrated asset in a team that relies on teamwork. Porter, who stands at 6’10”, brings his offensive brilliance and improved defensive routine to the court, which helps the Nuggets’ overall performance.
Porter’s path to this point was not without its challenges. At 25, he has already undergone three back surgeries, which have slowed down his growth. His debut season at Missouri was marred by a serious injury that kept him out of all but three games. As a result, he missed his debut season with the Nuggets in 2018-19 and was forced to miss 73 of 82 games in the final stretch due to another operation. Porter’s determination and persistence were important in his journey to stardom.
Porter uses his notebook to say thank you and also to vent his frustrations. By writing down his thoughts and worries, he prevents them from overwhelming him and allows him to concentrate on his game. In these therapeutic writing sessions, he discusses his back problems and the anguish of losing matches.
The athlete’s ability has been recognized since his high school days, when he was considered the second best prospect in the country, between Marvin Bagley and Deandre Ayton. Before the 2018 NBA draft, scouts praised Porter as one of the five best players, with excellent offensive ability. However, due to concerns about his back problems, clubs hesitated to pick him, and he ended up being selected 14th overall by the Denver Nuggets.
Porter went through ups and downs on and off the court during his career. There were concerns about his return to the game and whether he would be able to match the defensive standards set by the Nuggets and their coach, Michael Malone. Porter, on the other hand, proved his worth, progressively increasing his defensive ability and becoming a vital member of the team. This was emphasized by his recent five-year, US$179.3 million contract extension, which was signed in 2021 and has the potential to be worth US$200 million.