Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. has been playing through a knee issue no one outside the locker room knew about.
Speaking to reporters at shootaround ahead of Wednesday’s matchup against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, Porter revealed he’s been dealing with a minor MCL sprain since Brooklyn’s 104-103 overtime loss to the Orlando Magic at Barclays Center on Jan. 7.
Porter added that the soreness has affected his explosiveness on certain movements, especially the ones that help him shake free and get himself clean looks, but said it’s getting better. Meanwhile, the Nets have been trying to strike that familiar balance between competing and protecting a player who’s too important to risk.
Porter, an Eastern Conference All-Star hopeful, has still been productive. Since the injury, he’s averaging 24.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.8 steals per game while shooting 44.6% from the field and 36.2% from 3-point range. He’s also been rested in two of the last seven games, a quiet reminder that even when you’re available, you’re not always 100%.
Nets head coach Jordi Fernández didn’t offer much beyond the practical, which tracks with how Brooklyn has handled most injuries this season: no drama, no overexplaining, just a steady emphasis on availability and health.
“He had some discomfort, but he kept playing. He’s played all the way through,” Fernandez said. “We value our players’ health, and if it were something that didn’t allow him to play, we would do whatever it takes to figure that out. But he’s played, so I don’t think I have anything else to say from that.”
That’s the line the Nets keep walking right now with Porter. They need his scoring. They need his gravity. They need the version of him that rises over contests and punishes teams for giving him daylight. But they also need him healthy, especially if he’s going to keep performing at an All-Star level over the second half of the season.
Porter has been on the floor, and he’s been effective. The next step is getting him back to looking like himself on every cut, every stop, every quick pop into space. Because for a player built on confidence and timing, the difference between good and great can be as small as a knee that feels normal again.
Porter’s push for his first All-Star nod is still alive, but it’s in the hands of the coaches now.
The NBA’s Eastern Conference starters were announced Monday: Tyrese Maxey, Cade Cunningham, Jalen Brunson, Jaylen Brown and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Porter wasn’t voted in as a starter, meaning his path to Inglewood runs through a reserve spot when East head coaches fill out the rest of the roster.
And the numbers say he’s right there. Porter’s averaging 25.7 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game entering Wednesday while shooting 48.5% from the field and 39.8% from deep, putting him in rare scoring company among East forwards. He finished ninth overall in the East, a reflection of how much his season has broken through beyond Brooklyn.
With only seven reserve spots available, a couple of strong cases can get squeezed out depending on position balance and team success. But it’s hard to argue that the 27-year-old doesn’t belong in the conversation.
