Michael Porter Jr.: 'I'm the best player in this draft'
A year ago, Michael Porter Jr. was projected as the consensus No. 1 pick in this summer's NBA draft. But, a lower back injury changed that, limiting him to just three games for Missouri this past season, sending his stock downward.
Don't tell him that, though.
"I'm the best player in this draft," Porter said at the NBA combine Thursday, according to ESPN's Nick Friedell. "And I just can't wait to show what I'm capable of."
Porter may be right. He didn't participate in drills Thursday, but took measurements, coming out at just under 6-foot-11 in shoes with a 7-foot wingspan. A cursory look at his game and workout tape over the last two years brings to mind a thicker Kevin Durant.
Still, undergoing back surgery at age 19 could scare off NBA franchises, making his individual team workouts huge in terms of raising his stock. Right now, most mocks have him going between picks 5-10, something that could swiftly change given his skill set. In a big man-heavy lottery, Porter could be the best wing or scoring power forward.
"Everybody will know that soon," he said, according to the Sacramento Bee's Jason Jones.