Michael Porter Jr. is quietly putting together the best season of his career-and doing it while playing through pain. The Brooklyn Nets forward has emerged as a legitimate All-Star candidate, not just because of his scoring punch, but because of how essential he’s become to the team’s success.
When he plays, the Nets are competitive. When he doesn’t, they struggle.
It’s that simple.
But as it turns out, Porter’s been gutting it out through more than just defensive pressure and double teams. Speaking during shootaround ahead of the Nets’ matchup with the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, Porter revealed he's been dealing with a “little MCL sprain” since Brooklyn’s January 7 game against Orlando. That’s nearly two weeks of playing on a sore knee-without missing a game because of it.
Porter said the injury has impacted his explosiveness, particularly in movements where he needs to create separation. That kind of burst is critical for a scorer like him, especially when you consider how much of his offense comes from quick cuts, pull-ups, and getting to his spots off the dribble.
The good news? According to Porter, the knee is feeling better and is in the process of healing.
Despite the injury, the Nets haven’t officially listed Porter out for any games due to the knee issue. The only time it showed up on the injury report was ahead of a January 9 game against the Clippers, when he was tagged as “probable” with right knee soreness. He suited up anyway, dropping 18 points, though it wasn’t his cleanest performance-he shot 7-of-20 from the field and went 0-for-9 from three-point range.
This season, Porter has missed six games, but none directly due to the knee. Three were for rest or personal reasons, and the other three were tied to lower back tightness and injury management.
That’s important context, especially considering his injury history. The Nets have been cautious, but Porter’s commitment to staying on the floor when he can has been evident.
And when he’s on the floor, the numbers speak for themselves. Porter is averaging 25.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game while shooting 48.5% from the field and 39.8% from deep.
That’s All-Star-level production, no question. Since the knee injury, his scoring hasn’t dipped, but his efficiency has taken a slight hit-down to 44.6% from the field and 36.2% from three.
Still, those are solid marks, especially for a player adjusting to physical limitations on the fly.
What we’re seeing from Porter right now is a player not just chasing numbers, but embracing responsibility. He knows how important he is to this team-and he’s showing up, even when he’s not at 100%. That’s the kind of leadership that doesn’t always show up in the box score, but it matters just as much.
If the knee continues to improve and Porter regains that full explosiveness, the Nets could have an even more dangerous version of their best player heading into the second half of the season. And if the All-Star nod comes his way, it’ll be well-earned-not just for the stats, but for the grit behind them.