Michael Porter Jr. admits his Nets future is clouded by injuries

Michael Porter Jr. — the highest-paid Nets player, who arrived in Brooklyn as a salary dump — is slated to make a hefty $78 million over the next two seasons. 

But the forward, who has dealt with debilitating back woes in the past, said recently he’s taking his career a year at a time, and is going to reassess his career next summer to see if he’s even physically able to keep playing. 

“Because of the injuries and stuff, I don’t know how much longer I really want to play,” he told podcaster Justin Laboy. “Like, I want to play as long as I can, but people don’t understand the things I’ve got to go through on a daily basis just to get out on the court and play with the best athletes in the world.” 

Porter had a third back surgery in December 2021 that wiped out most of his 2021-22 season. While he has largely been available since then, Porter has been left with nerve damage, has worn an ankle-foot brace for “foot drop,” and had to put in extra unseen work to stay on the floor. 

That’s why he went to Costa Rica this summer, unplugged and had an epiphany. He’s taking things a season at a time. 

“I came to real clarity,” Porter said. “I decided all I’m going to do is take it a year at a time. So I’m committed to basketball and putting my all into it for the next year and then after that, I’m gonna reevaluate. 

“I’m gonna take a trip somewhere else, put my phone up for four or five days, and reevaluate for the next year. So that’s kind of how I want to do it moving forward. I don’t want to plan too far in the future. I just want to take it a year at a time.” 

With a team that has three teens and seven players 21 or younger, Jordi Fernández praised assistant Juwan Howard’s ability mentoring young players. 

“Yeah, Juwan is very important for me, because it allows me to coach the way I coach, and because I feel supported by him 1,000 percent,” Fernández said. “Obviously his relationship with the players, and the player that he’s been, that just makes me a better coach. 

“And also if he has to check me, or ask me why you’re doing this or don’t do this, that’s also important for me, because he can help me navigate a lot of the personalities. And like I’ve always said I don’t have all the answers. And having a coaching staff that makes me better is always very important.” 

New Zealand-bred GM Sean Marks told Sport Nation in his home country that the Nets likely won’t take any more salary dumps before the season and will probably carry their cap space for the immediate future. 

“We haven’t used all our cap space,” Marks said. “We don’t intend to.” 

Brooklyn could have $15.5 million in cap room to use at the trade deadline.