Michael Porter Jr. Clears Wrist Issue, Scoring Early for the Nets
Michael Porter Jr. is off Brooklyn's injury report after clearing a left wrist and arm issue that had him day-to-day. He's opened the season hot, scoring 27 against Miami and 22 against Washington, building off a career-best scoring season in 2025-26. At 28 and in his seventh year, he remains the Nets' top scoring threat on the wing.
By the Nets Nightly Desk · updated 7 d ago01The story of the nightHealth ReportMichael Porter Jr.
Michael Porter Jr. is not on the injury report. He had been day-to-day with a left wrist and arm issue as of October 8, but the Nets cleared him four days later, on October 12. He played the next two games without missing time, logging 23.9 minutes against Washington on the 12th and 27.3 minutes against Miami on the 14th. There's no indication in his recent game logs that the wrist limited his role once he was back - he scored in both outings and kept his usual minutes load. For a player who logged 32.5 minutes a night last season, the quick turnaround from day-to-day back to the floor is a good sign for his availability going forward.
02A Career Year Last SeasonPorter's 2025-26 season was the best scoring year of his career.
Porter's 2025-26 season was the best scoring year of his career. He averaged 24.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.3 blocks over 52 games for Brooklyn, playing 32.5 minutes a night. He shot 46.3 percent from the field, 36.3 percent from three and 85.9 percent from the line, good for a 59.5 true shooting mark. His usage rate sat at 29.2 percent, meaning he was finishing nearly three of every ten Nets possessions while he was on the floor. The plus-minus was rough at minus-3.9, a reflection of where the team stood more than his individual scoring, which held up all season.
03Early Returns This SeasonThrough his first three logged games of 2026-27, Porter has been Brooklyn's go-to scorer.
Through his first three logged games of 2026-27, Porter has been Brooklyn's go-to scorer. He opened with 16 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists in 16.9 minutes in a win over Charlotte on October 6. Against Washington on October 12, he scored 22 points with 4 rebounds in 23.9 minutes, another win. Then on October 14, in a loss to Miami, he poured in a team-high 27 points on 27.3 minutes, though the Nets finished minus-8 with him on the floor. Two wins and a loss, with his scoring climbing each game - 16, then 22, then 27 points - as his minutes have ticked up toward last season's workload.
04The Swings From Last SeasonPorter's box scores from last season show how streaky his production could get.
Porter's box scores from last season show how streaky his production could get. He had big nights, like 30 points and 13 rebounds in 39.3 minutes in a win over Detroit on March 7, and 25 points with 14 rebounds against San Antonio on February 26. But there were quiet ones too - 9 points against Miami on March 3 and 18 points in a 23-point loss to Boston on February 27. His rebounding also swung game to game, from 13 boards in some outings down to 1 or 2 in others. That range between big double-doubles and off nights is part of why his per-game averages matter more than any single box score.
05Role and ProfilePorter is in his seventh NBA season, all of it defining him as a scoring forward.
Porter is in his seventh NBA season, all of it defining him as a scoring forward. He's listed at 6-10, 232 pounds, wears number 17, and plays forward for Brooklyn. He came out of Missouri and turns basketball decisions on size at his position - a forward who can shoot from the perimeter at a 36.3 percent clip while still getting to the rim often enough to shoot 85.9 percent from the free-throw line. With a 29.2 usage rate last season, he's a focal point of Brooklyn's offense, not a complementary piece. Health is the swing factor for how much of that role he can carry through a full season after being in and out with the wrist issue.
Avdija24.2 ppg
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