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SALT LAKE CITY – With defiance, Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. tells doubters from NBA nation to the Twitterverse and beyond: “I really don’t care what people say.”
We like the feistiness. But if Porter can’t live up to the expectations that come with a $30.9 million annual salary, R.I.P. to MPJ’s mentions.
Playing his first basketball game in 348 days, it was neither a happy nor triumphant return for Porter.
In their season-opener, the Nuggets got beat 123-102 Wednesday night by a Utah team tanking for Victor Wembanyama, the most-anticipated No. 1 draft pick since LeBron James in 2003.
Porter scored 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds. But his defense was lacking, allowing less-heralded players in a Utah uniform, including Lauri Markkanen, who scored 17 points, to offset MPJ’s contributions at the offensive end.
In a search for inner peace, Porter has shut his ears and eyes to social media, making a concerted effort not to be sucked down what he calls “the rabbit hole.”
When asked why he has decided to pull the plug on checking his mentions, Porter cited a Super Bowl-winning quarterback who is now on blast from coast to coast as being washed up.
“If you have a good game, people are talking great about you. Bad game, everything on Twitter is negative,” Porter said.
“I see examples, over and over. For example: Russell Wilson, he’s a good friend of mine. People have praised him a lot during his career and now he’s faced some adversity, the things on Twitter that people are writing about him are kind of disheartening. That’s why I try to stay away from social media.”
Shut down Twitter or Instagram? That’s easy — and wise — for MPJ to do. But play anywhere near shutdown defense, even for one possession? Not going to happen. At least not anytime soon.
The same chronic back issues that caused Porter to drop to No. 14 in the first round of the 2018 draft limited him to only nine games last season before he underwent lumbar spine surgery on Dec. 1.
“At peace with knowing … you can work as hard as you want physically, be the hardest worker, and a lot of things are still out of your control,” said Porter, who can’t know if or when back pain will flare up again.
To have any legitimate shot at winning the first championship in franchise history, the Nuggets need Porter on the court as an impact player, the third offensive option after Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.
“He can be a piece that helps us win our first championship,” coach Michael Malone said.
On the morning of his first game back in the Nuggets lineup since enduring the third surgical procedure on his back, Porter talked about “goals that are definitely bigger than I’ve reached so far that keep me motivated.”
I told MPJ that down in the rabbit hole, he would find doubters who wonder if the potential of his sweet jumper will ever be fulfilled.
“You would say unfulfilled potential?” Porter asked me.
“Yes,” I said, admitting that’s the term I would apply to his NBA career.
Porter replied: “That’s why I’m not worried about what people like you are talking about.”
“Love it,” I told MPJ. “Forget people like me, when you look in the mirror, what do you see and how do you define yourself?”
Porter exhaled to gather his thoughts, before delivering this definition: “Try not to define myself by other people’s expectations. Try to get better every day, live day by day and try to get better.”
MPJ paused for a moment, weary of the topic of unfulfilled potential, then declared the conversation over.
“I’m done,” said Porter, as got up from a courtside seat and walked to the Denver locker room.
Maybe MPJ really doesn’t care what you or I think of him.
But he’s a sensitive enough soul to care about living up to a $179 million contract the Nuggets invested in his potential.
Whether the back and mind of MPJ are fit to carry that burden? It’s the most intriguing mystery of this season.
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