""Basketball is my passion," Porter said. "I want to play as long as I can. I think that it's just easier in my head to be like, man, give it my all, everything I have this year, and then when the year is over, see where I'm at mentally and reevaluate. But in the back of my mind, obviously I want to play as long my body allows me.""
""I didn't realize how much of that actually stemmed from the mental side of things and the stress and all that," Porter said. "So, once I kind of put all those pieces together, and I didn't just pay attention to the physical side of things, I was able to have a very well-rounded approach to my rehab. And since then, I haven't had any problems with my back.""
Michael Porter Jr. underwent two back surgeries that cost almost his lone collegiate season at Missouri, dropped his 2018 draft stock, and sidelined him his entire rookie year. A third procedure in 2021 after nine games and other setbacks deepened doubts about his long-term durability. Porter appeared in 158 games over his last two seasons with the Nuggets and joined the Nets with durability central to his identity. He played through a Grade 2 AC joint sprain during the 2025 playoffs. Porter credits psychotherapist Nicole Sachs and mental-emotional work for a well-rounded rehab that resolved his back issues and plans to help amplify her mind-body approach while reassessing his playing future annually.
Read at New York Daily News
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