Michael Porter Jr. has yet to play an NBA game, but the 14th overall pick by the Denver Nuggets in this year’s NBA Draft is getting paid. His rookie-scale contract signed last month is estimated to pay him $2.9 million this year, and up to $5.3 million by the fourth and final year.
Among the first things he did with some of that money was bless his mother, Lisa, with a new car. Porter thanked her for giving up so much to raise him and his seven siblings.
“It’s such a blessing for me to be able to bless you like this, it’s been a dream of mine!” Porter wrote. “You are an angel to me and the most incredible mom in the world … But most of all thank you and Dad for raising us to trust God’s word and lean on Him!”
Porter — who says, “God first always,” on his Twitter profile — was thought by many to be the steal of the draft. He began college at the University of Missouri as the nation’s No. 1 overall recruit, after being named the McDonald’s High School All-American Game MVP and winner of both the Naismith and Gatorade National Player of the Year awards (Dwight Howard, LeBron James, Chris Webber and Alonzo Mourning are the only other players to collect those same three awards).
But he slipped to No. 14 in the draft because he played only a few minutes of one collegiate game before suffering a back injury and needing surgery, which caused him to miss the rest of his only collegiate season. Porter underwent a second surgery last month, and while the Nuggets don’t expect him to miss the season, the team has said there is no timetable for his return.
congrats @MPJr – you’re going to be a great kingdom influence!! 💥 pic.twitter.com/sCy1h7YbwV
— Tony Evans (@drtonyevans) July 17, 2018
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